Use of Intravenous Methohexital as a Sedative in Pediatric Emergency Departments

Abstract

Intravenous methohexital is a short-acting and effective sedative for use in pediatric emergency departments to obtain computed tomographic scans.

Analysis of procedural sedation provided by pediatricians

“…1,2 There are a vast number of outcome studies conducted in children undergoing diagnostic imaging and therapeutic procedures who were sedated by non-anesthesiologists. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Most of these studies investigated a single procedural sedation technique in a particular institution with care delivered by only one type of sedation provider. Frequently the provider type is a pediatric emergency medicine or intensive care physician or dentist.…”

“…There are a vast number of outcome studies conducted in children undergoing diagnostic imaging and therapeutic procedures who were sedated by non‐anesthesiologists . Most of these studies investigated a single procedural sedation technique in a particular institution with care delivered by only one type of sedation provider.…”

Adverse Events Associated with Procedural Sedation in Pediatric Patients in the Emergency Department

“…The literature that does exist examines single agents and does not include comparisons between 2 or more agents. 8,9 Published peer-reviewed literature strongly supports the EM physician's ability to safely and effectively administer procedural sedation in the ED; however; there is no clear guidance on how to best execute this practice.…”