Issues concerning the sedation of children for radiation therapy

Radiation therapy is a commonly used modality to treat certain pediatric malignancies. To optimally treat a child's tumor while sparing normal, developing tissues from both short- and long-term side effects, the child must be in a fixed and reproducible position on the treatment table. Many children, especially those under age three, very anxious children, and those who are developmentally disabled, may require daily sedation for a course of radiotherapy. Issues concerning the use of sedation, types of drugs used, and the nurse's role in the sedation process are presented in this article.