[Rectal pentobarbital sedation for children undergoing auditory brainstem response testing].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to determine if rectal sedation with pentobarbital sodium provides safe and effective sedation for children undergoing auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing.


METHODS
A prospective study was conducted in the ENT pediatric department of Robert Debre's hospital (APHP, Paris). 68 children under 8 years of age were given rectal pentobarbital for ABR testing at a dosage of about 5 mg/kg.


RESULTS
61 children of 68 (89.7%) were adequately sedated with rectal pentobarbital. The mean elapsed time from drug administration to full sedation was 36,1 minutes. No adverse event was reported in 84.1% of children.


CONCLUSIONS
Pentobarbital provides safe and effective sedation. Rectal administration is easy, painless and with brief duration of action. It's a good alternative to general anesthesia for young children undergoing ABR testing.
Baculard
F
F
Service d'ORL et de Chirurgie Cervicofaciale Pédiatrique, Hôpital Robert-Debré, APHP, 75019 Paris cedex 19, France. flbaculard@free.fr
Rieutord
A
A
Eslami
A
A
Cousin
J
J
Van Den Abbeele
T
T
François
M
M
D000285:Administration, Rectal; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010424:Pentobarbital