Oral meperidine, atropine, and pentobarbital for pediatric conscious sedation.
OBJECTIVE
To document the effectiveness and safety of using a combination of oral meperidine, atropine, and pentobarbital for pediatric conscious sedation.


METHODS
Sixty-three patients ages 6 months to 23 years (M = 5 years) undergoing outpatient cardiac catheterization were given an oral premedication consisting of meperidine, atropine, and pentobarbital for sedation. The effectiveness of the medication in providing sedation and the complication of over sedation when using a standard dose based upon weight were analyzed.


RESULTS
Seventy six percent of the patients were deemed sedated on arrival to the catheterization laboratory. Forty eight percent did not require any further sedation during the procedure. Need for further sedation was related to the length of the procedure. Three patients (4.8%) incurred complications of sedation; all three had received additional sedation during the procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of meperidine, atropine, and pentobarbital is a safe and effective premedication for cardiac catheterization when administered in standard dosage based upon body weight.
Winn
C W
CW
Sibley Heart Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Porter
A G
AG
Vincent
R N
RN
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001285:Atropine; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000451:nursing; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008614:Meperidine; D010424:Pentobarbital; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001285:Atropine; D008614:Meperidine; D010424:Pentobarbital