SNAP is a useful tool in medical research and can be applied in different population groups. Its independence from birth weight underlines its added value to predict fatality ratios. Moreover, the results of the present study indicate that SNAP can be estimated without loss of predictive efficiency during the first 12 hours from admission to the NICU, whereas SNAP during the second 12 hours adequately reflects the effectiveness of early medical interventions.

dren. 3 It is likely that many patients presenting to the emergency department with trauma would not be fasted. Trauma further delays gastric emptying in children, 4 making it impossible to predict a "safe" interval before administration of deep sedation or anesthesia. These children would appear to be exposed to a significant risk of regurgitation and possible pulmonary aspiration, necessitating precautions such as rapid-sequence tracheal intubation with application of cricoid pressure.We question the wisdom of the described method of sedation in this population of patients.