title: [Anesthesia using intramuscular methohexital for cerebral computed tomography in the child. Apropos of 100 cases].
abstract: Computed Tomography scans of the head demand a perfect motionless state, requiring sedation or general anesthesia for young children. Taking into account that CT Scan is innocuous, the proposed method of sedation must be devoid of any risk. A study was made about one hundred cases of intramuscular methohexital sedation of children, ages 3 weeks to 6 years (average age 26.05 +/- 19.95 months and average weight 9.9 +/- 4.07 kilograms). Children's medical antecedents were heavy foetal suffering, artificial ventilation at birth time, anticonvulsant medication for thirty percent of children. Average duration of the Scan was 35.8 +/- 12 minutes, with injection of contrast material in 83 percent of children. Injection of iodized material brings on a glow of warmth that can induce withdrawal movements of the child. Contrast material is used at the dose of 2 milliliters per kilogram. In general, CT Scan is performed after a clinical examination of the child, without any premedication. The child receives methohexital saline 2.5 percent solution intramuscularly deep in outer upper quadrant of the buttock, 10 mg per kilogram-1. Once the sedation is obtained, an infusion of isotonic glucose is set on to compensate fasting. The child, spontaneously breathing, is clinically and under ECG monitoring watched over at a distance. At the end of the Scan, children are observed in the recovery ward for 46 +/- 18 minutes before going back to their ward or their parents. Intramuscular methohexital provided adequate sedation to 96 patients. Two cases of failure to achieve a motionless state required general anesthesia induced with halothane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Département d'Anesthésie-Réanimation, C.H.R. Metz-Thionville, Hôpital Bel-Air, Thionville.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bemer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schwindenhammer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pecourt
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bertocchi
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Poussel
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008723:Methohexital / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D008723:Methohexital
vernacular_title: Anesthésie par méthohexital intramusculaire pour tomodensitométrie cérébrale chez l'enfant. A propos de 100 cas.