Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview

Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.

Stages of General Anesthesia

Stages of General Anesthesia

Various sedation levels offer significant advantages in facilitating procedural interventions for patients undergoing medical or invasive surgical procedures. These levels span from anxiolysis to general anesthesia, providing a spectrum of sedative effects to cater to specific patient needs. Anxiolysis reduces anxiety and is achieved through minimal sedation, enabling patients to remain awake and responsive while feeling more at ease during the procedure. This level can benefit minor...

Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview

Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview

Inhalation anesthetics are drugs that induce general anesthesia upon inhalation. They work by increasing the sensitivity of GABAA receptors or inhibiting NMDA receptors, leading to a decrease in central nervous system activity. The depth of anesthesia can be rapidly adjusted by changing the concentration of the inhaled gas. Some common examples of inhalational anesthetics include volatile liquids like isoflurane, desflurane, sevoflurane and gases like xenon and nitrous oxide. Isoflurane, a...

General Anesthesia: Overview

General Anesthesia: Overview

Anesthesia is a medical procedure that uses drugs for CNS suppression to enable painless surgeries and procedures. The selection of anesthetics is influenced by their pharmacokinetic properties, side effects, and patient characteristics. Various types of anesthesia include general, local, regional, spinal, and inhalational.
General anesthesia induces unconsciousness in the whole body, while the others target specific areas or sensations. It is administered to minimize adverse effects, maintain...

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses

Skeletal muscle relaxants are used to relax muscle tone and alleviate painful muscle contractions. However, the choice of skeletal muscle relaxants depends on the duration of the surgical procedure in order to minimize potential side effects. Skeletal muscle relaxants like neuromuscular blocking agents [NMBAs] are commonly employed as adjuvants alongside general anesthetics in clinical settings. NMBAs are also used to maintain controlled ventilation during surgery of the larynx or pharynx as...

Endoscopic Procedures IV: Sigmoidoscopy and Laproscopy

Endoscopic Procedures IV: Sigmoidoscopy and Laproscopy

Sigmoidoscopy and laparoscopy are distinct medical procedures that enable physicians to internally inspect different parts of the GI tract. Although they serve different purposes, each is essential for diagnosing and, in some cases, treating various medical conditions.
Sigmoidoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that uses a flexible sigmoidoscope equipped with a light source and camera to examine the rectum and sigmoid colon. The procedure involves inserting the tube through the anus...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Intramuscular dexmedetomidine: an effective route of sedation preserves background activity for pediatric electroencephalograms.

The Journal of pediatrics·2012

Same author

Intramuscular dexmedetomidine sedation for pediatric MRI and CT.

AJR. American journal of roentgenology·2011

Same author

Dexmedetomidine for procedural sedation in children with autism and other behavior disorders.

Pediatric neurology·2009

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Guidelines for Elective Pediatric Fiberoptic Intubation

Guidelines for Elective Pediatric Fiberoptic Intubation

Published on: January 17, 2011

Improving outcomes in pediatric procedural sedation.

Nina Lubisch¹, Rudolph Roskos, Suzan M Sattler

¹Chris Evert Children's Hospital, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.

Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety

|May 13, 2008

Summary

Implementing a new pediatric sedation protocol using dexmedetomidine significantly reduced failed sedation rates from 12.29% to under 1% in children. This new protocol demonstrated sustained benefits and lasting value in pediatric procedural sedation.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Guidelines for Elective Pediatric Fiberoptic Intubation

Guidelines for Elective Pediatric Fiberoptic Intubation

Published on: January 17, 2011

Area of Science:

Pediatric Anesthesiology
Pharmacology
Patient Safety

Background:

Chris Evert Children's Hospital previously used chloral hydrate and pentobarbital for pediatric sedation.
Pentobarbital use led to high rates of failed sedation (12.29%) due to paradoxical reactions or insufficient effect.
The 2003 failed sedation rate was over six times the national benchmark of 2%.

Purpose of the Study:

To improve pediatric procedural sedation success rates.
To implement a new sedation protocol utilizing dexmedetomidine.
To enhance patient safety and care through performance improvement initiatives.

Main Methods:

Development of a new pediatric sedation protocol with dexmedetomidine as the primary agent.
Establishment of a dedicated eight-bed sedation unit.
Integration of pre-assessment, post-procedure monitoring, and parental involvement.

Main Results:

The failed sedation rate decreased dramatically from 12.29% in 2003 to 1.63% in 2004.
Further reductions observed: 0.19% in 2005, 0.28% in 2006, and 0.72% in 2007.
An average 98% reduction in failed sedation rates was achieved post-protocol implementation.

Conclusions:

The new pediatric sedation protocol has demonstrated sustained benefits and lasting value.
Dexmedetomidine as a primary agent, alongside improved unit infrastructure, significantly enhances sedation success.
The protocol's success highlights the importance of continuous quality improvement in pediatric sedation practices.