title: Pharmacological sedation for cranial computed tomography in children after minor blunt head trauma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Children evaluated in emergency departments for blunt head trauma (BHT) frequently undergo computed tomography (CT), with some requiring pharmacological sedation. Cranial CT sedation complications are understudied. The objective of this study was to document the frequency, type, and complications of pharmacological sedation for cranial CT in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively enrolled children (younger than 18 years) with minor BHT presenting to 25 emergency departments from 2004 to 2006. Data collected included sedation agent and complications. We excluded patients with Glasgow Coma Scale scores of less than 14.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 57,030 eligible patients, 43,904 (77%) were enrolled in the parent study; 15,176 (35%) had CT scans performed or planned, and 527 (3%) received pharmacological sedation for CT. Sedated patients' characteristics were as follows: median age, 1.7 years (interquartile range, 1.1-2.5 years); male 61%; Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15, 86%; traumatic brain injury on CT, 8%. There were 488 patients (93%) who received 1 sedative. Sedation use (0%-21%) and regimen varied by site. Pentobarbital (n = 164) and chloral hydrate (n = 149) were the most frequently used agents. Sedation complications occurred in 49 patients (9%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7%-12%): laryngospasm 1 (0.2%; 95% CI, 0%-1.1%), failed sedation 31 (6%; 95% CI, 4%-8%), vomiting 6 (1%; 95% CI, 0.4%-2%), hypotension 13 (4%; 95% CI, 2%-7%), and hypoxia 1 (0.2%; 95% CI, 0%-2%). No cases of apnea, aspiration, or reversal agent use occurred. One patient required intubation. Vomiting and failed sedation were most common with chloral hydrate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pharmacological sedation is infrequently used for children with minor BHT undergoing CT, and complications are uncommon. The variability in sedation medications and frequency suggests a need for evidence-based guidelines.
authors.affiliation: From the *Departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, Western Michigan University School of Medicine; †Department of Emergency Medicine, Michigan State University; ‡Departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, SUNY-Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY; §Departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY; ∥Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL; ¶Department of Pediatrics, Holy Cross Hospital, Silver Springs, MD; #Department of Emergency Medicine, Atlantic Health System, Morristown Memorial Hospital, Morristown, NJ; **Department of Emergency Medicine, Calvert Memorial Hospital, Prince Frederick, MD; ††Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; ‡‡Children's National Medical Center/Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC; §§Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY; and Departments of ∥∥Emergency Medicine and ¶¶Pediatrics, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA.
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hoyle
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Callahan
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Badawy
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerardi
authors.forename: Kraig
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Melville
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miskin
authors.forename: Shireen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Atabaki
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dayan
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kuppermann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007223:Infant; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014193:Trauma Centers; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives