title: Use of high dose chloral hydrate for ophthalmic exams in children: a retrospective review of 302 cases.
abstract: 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.
authors: Division of Ophthalmology, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, CA 90027.
authors: B E
authors: BE
authors: Fox
authors: C O
authors: CO
authors: O'Brien
authors: K J
authors: KJ
authors: Kangas
authors: A L
authors: AL
authors: Murphree
authors: K W
authors: KW
authors: Wright
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D002697:Chloral Hydrate