A survey of post-discharge side effects of conscious sedation using chloral hydrate in pediatric CT and MR imaging

• Published in: Pediatric radiology Vol. 29; no. 4; pp. 287 - 290
• Main Authors: KAO, S. C, ADAMSON, S. D, TATMAN, L. H, BERBAUM, K. S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.04.1999; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Chloral Hydrate - adverse effects; Conscious Sedation - adverse effects; Female; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives - adverse effects; Hypnotics. Sedatives; Infant; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Neuropharmacology; Patient Discharge; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prospective Studies; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Human; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Radiodiagnosis; Chloral hydrate; Secondary effect; Medical imagery; Computerized axial tomography; Sedative; Sedation; Child; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging
• ISSN: 0301-0449; 1432-1998
• DOI: 10.1007/s002470050590

Limited information is available on post-discharge side effects of chloral hydrate sedation in pediatric imaging. To prospectively study the post-discharge side effects of chloral hydrate sedation in pediatric CT and MR imaging. A total of 119 children undergoing CT and MRI were sedated using chloral hydrate with 89 % success (mean initial dose, 72 mg/kg body weight) and 98 % success after augmentation (mean total, 78 mg/kg body weight). The frequency of each post-discharge side effect was correlated with other side effects and 12 patient/technical parameters. The survey was completed in 80 children. Sleepiness lasted for > 4 h in 28 %. Unsteadiness occurred in 68 % and hyperactivity in 29 %. Appetite became poor in 14 % and vomiting occurred in 15 %. Normal activity was resumed after > 4 h in 54 %. Sleep deprivation did not result in increased success or earlier onset of sedation and might be associated with hyperactivity. A higher dose did not result in an increased success rate or earlier onset of sedation within the dose range used in this study. Data on the post-discharge side effects of chloral hydrate sedation will be useful to radiologists, technologists, and nurses explaining to parents about sedation using this agent.