Use of high dose chloral hydrate for ophthalmic exams in children: a retrospective review of 302 cases.
Although chloral hydrate sedation has been proposed as an alternative to evaluation under anesthesia for pediatric patients who are unable to cooperate with routine test procedures, a careful study of the drug's safety and effectiveness is lacking. This study reports the effectiveness and safety of high-dose chloral hydrate for ophthalmic examination in 302 patients between the ages of 1 month and 5 years. The patients had nothing to eat or drink for 4 hours prior to drug administration. The patients were monitored during sedation and until fully awake. Eighty-eight percent of the patients (266/302) were successfully sedated without a supplemental dose. There were no reports of any complications including emesis, respiratory distress or depression, behavioral problems, changes in vital signs, patient injury, or hospital admission. The high-dose chloral hydrate protocol described, results in safe and generally successful sedation of pediatric patients for ophthalmic examination.
Fox
B E
BE
Division of Ophthalmology, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, CA 90027.
O'Brien
C O
CO
Kangas
K J
KJ
Murphree
A L
AL
Wright
K W
KW
D002675:Child, Preschool; D002697:Chloral Hydrate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013537:Sutures; D014787:Vision Tests
D002697:Chloral Hydrate