Comparison of Methohexital and Pentobarbital as Sedative Agents for Pediatric Emergency Department Patients for Computed Tomography

Abstract

Methohexital may be superior to pentobarbital for the purpose of sedating PED patients for head CT.

An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline: Classification, Evaluation, and Management of Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease in Infancy

“…This recommendation is based upon our recognition that the techniques used in pediatric imaging can be challenging and require experience to obtain high-quality images that lead to an accurate diagnosis. These techniques include controlling lung inflation for inspiratory and expiratory imaging (45), the use of high-pitch CT technique to minimize imaging time, thus decreasing image blurring due to motion (46), the use of pediatric sedative medication (47,48) when appropriate, and the use of ventilation support to minimize atelectasis that can obscure areas of the lung parenchyma (49). Each of these techniques appears to improve diagnostic accuracy, although our confidence in such estimates is limited by the study design and small studies with few events.…”

Comparison of Dexmedetomidine With Pentobarbital for Pediatric MRI Sedation

“…Recovery time after pentobarbital sedation has been reported as 54 ± 43 to 95 ± 28 minutes. 2,11 The difference in recovery and total sedation time between the 2 sedatives may have signifi cant impact on patient fl ow, physician and nurse productivities.…”

Pediatric Procedural Sedation and Analgesia

“…A study from a 2009 Pediatric Emergency Care article showed that methohexital was superior to pentobarbital for the purpose of sedating emergency department patients for head computed tomography (CT). 45 The IV dose is 1 mg/kg. 46 For diagnostic imaging (eg, magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and CT), rectal administration can be performed.…”