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Published on: May 10, 2019
[Application of conscious sedation in infants undergoing the auditory brainstem responses (ABR) examination]
Anna Kabacińska1, Dorota Stańczyk, Czesława Tarnowska
1Klinika Otolaryngologii i Onkologii Laryngologicznej PAM w Szczecinie.
Insights
Auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing effectively identified hearing loss in infants. Sedation with 6% chloral hydrate enema proved safe and reliable for pediatric audiological evaluations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric audiology
- Neuroscience
- Otolaryngology
Context:
- Infant hearing screening programs identify infants requiring further audiological assessment.
- Evoked auditory brainstem responses (ABR) are crucial for objective hearing evaluation in infants.
- Sedation methods are often necessary for successful ABR testing in young children.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of using 6% chloral hydrate enema for sedation during ABR examinations in infants.
- To determine the diagnostic yield of ABR in infants identified through newborn hearing screening.
- To assess the reliability of ABR results obtained under chloral hydrate-induced sedation.
Summary:
- A study examined 184 infants undergoing hearing screening, with 29 (15.8%) requiring further ABR testing.
- Twenty infants received ABR testing under sedation with 6% chloral hydrate enema, which was well-tolerated without cardiorespiratory complications.
- Diagnostic ABR results were obtained in 72% of sedated infants, detecting hearing loss in 24% who were referred for rehabilitation.
Impact:
- Conscious sedation with 6% chloral hydrate enema is a safe and effective method for pediatric ABR testing.
- This approach facilitates accurate audiological diagnosis in infants, enabling timely intervention for hearing impairments.
- The findings support the wider adoption of this sedation protocol in clinical and hospital settings for infant audiology.
Abstract:
Results of ABR examination in infants undergone the hearing screening examinations were presented. Since February 2004 the group of 184 children were examined. In 29 of them (15.8%) there was a need of further hearing examination using evoked auditory brainstem responses. In 20 of them the examination was done in sleep induced by 6% chloral hydrate enema. The process of sleep was normal and no disturbances of breathing or circulatory systems were observed. The obtained responses from brainstem were not interfered by any artifacts and basic waves were legible and easy for interpretation. Correct results of the ABR examination were obtained in 21/29 (72%) children, while in 7/28 (24%) various degree of hearing losses were detected. Those children were referred for hearing rehabilitation to the Third Degree of Reference Center. It was emphasized in the study that results of ABR examination after conscious sedation induced by 6% chloral hydrate enema accounted the suggestion for its wider use in other clinical and hospital center.
