Adverse effects of pediatric emergency sedation after discharge

Lisa M Steurer1, Janet Luhmann

  • 1Professional Practice and Systems, St. Louis ChildIren's Hospital, St. Louis, MO, USA.

Pediatric Nursing
|November 29, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric emergency department sedation can lead to adverse events in children post-discharge. Common issues include lethargy and behavioral changes, necessitating parental guidance.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Pharmacology
  • Patient Safety

Background:

  • Sedation is a frequent intervention for children in emergency settings.
  • Post-discharge adverse events following pediatric sedation are not well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the incidence and types of adverse effects in children after emergency department sedation.
  • To inform parental guidance regarding potential post-discharge complications.

Main Methods:

  • A telephone questionnaire was administered to parents of 547 children approximately 24 hours after discharge.
  • Data collected from a pediatric academic hospital were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Main Results:

  • 42% of children experienced at least one adverse effect post-discharge.
  • Common adverse effects included lethargy (12%), vomiting (7%), and behavioral changes (7%).
  • Other reported effects were headache, nausea, sleep disturbances, and hallucinations.

Conclusions:

  • Minor adverse effects are common in children after emergency department sedation.
  • Parents and caregivers require anticipatory guidance on potential post-discharge effects.
Abstract

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