Consideration should be given to using single agents, avoiding the use of multidrug sedation regimens, and recognizing that a history of pulmonary disease could be associated with an increased risk of adverse respiratory events despite a currently stable respiratory state.

Although oral pentobarbital and oral chloral hydrate are equally effective, the incidence of adverse events with pentobarbital was significantly reduced.

PO pentobarbital has comparable effectiveness and a lower rate of respiratory complications compared with IV pentobarbital in infants younger than 12 months; its use should be considered, regardless of presence of an IV catheter.

No abstract