Related Experiment Videos
Conscious sedation in the pediatric emergency department
1Johns Hopkins Children's Center, Division of General Pediatrics, Baltimore, MD 21287-3144, USA.
Insights
Conscious sedation and analgesia improve pediatric emergency care for painful procedures. Further research is needed to establish safe standards for pediatric conscious sedation protocols and medications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Pain Management
Background:
- Emergency department procedures like laceration repair can be anxiety-provoking and painful for pediatric patients.
- Pharmacologic agents for conscious sedation and analgesia can improve patient tolerance and practitioner ease during these procedures.
- Professional organizations provide guidance on using these agents in pediatric care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current information on pharmacologic agents for conscious sedation and analgesia in pediatric emergency departments.
- To highlight areas of ongoing research, including new drug evaluations, adverse effects, and antagonist medications.
- To emphasize the need for large controlled trials to establish safe standards.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current research and guidelines on pediatric conscious sedation and analgesia.
- Focus on evaluation of new drugs, adverse effects of existing medications, and antagonist agents.
- Identification of the need for controlled trials.
Main Results:
- Current research focuses on new drug evaluations, adverse effects, and sedative/analgesic antagonists.
- Existing guidelines from professional organizations support the use of these agents.
- A significant need exists for large, controlled trials.
Conclusions:
- Conscious sedation and analgesia are vital for managing pediatric emergency procedures.
- Continued research and large-scale trials are essential for developing evidence-based standards for pediatric conscious sedation.
- Establishing clear protocols will enhance safety and efficacy in pediatric emergency care.
Abstract:
Anxiety-provoking and painful emergency department procedures such as laceration repair are made more tolerable to the pediatric patient and easier for the practitioner through the judicious use of pharmacologic agents for conscious sedation and analgesia. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Emergency Physicians have published documents that guide the physician in the use of these agents in the care of children. Most new information concerns the evaluation of new drugs for use in the pediatric emergency department, adverse effects of familiar products, and evaluation of sedative and analgesic antagonist medications that may increase a practitioner's control when conscious sedation is used. Large controlled trials of protocols and drugs are necessary to establish safe, appropriate standards for conscious sedation in the pediatric emergency department.