Safety and efficacy of sedation in children using a structured sedation program.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of sedating pediatric outpatients in a radiology department using a structured sedation program modeled after the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Medical records of 6006 pediatric outpatients who underwent sedation for imaging studies under the guidelines of a structured sedation program were retrospectively reviewed for safety and efficacy of sedation, complications related to sedation, and rate of successful sedation. No cases of cardiovascular or respiratory arrest or fatalities occurred. Four children who required overnight hospitalization because of CNS depression had no sequelae. Forty-eight patients experienced transient respiratory depression that proved responsive to supplemental oxygen. Delayed complications were found in 29 children, none of whom required hospitalization. The rate of sedation failure was approximately 1%. Sedation of children can be done in a safe and highly efficacious manner in a hospital radiology department using a structured sedation program modeled after the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics.