Rectal thiopental sodium for sedation of pediatric patients undergoing MR and other imaging studies.

PURPOSE To determine the efficacy and safety of rectal thiopental sodium as a sedation agent for pediatric imaging.

METHODS Four hundred sixty-two infants and children were sedated with rectal thiopental sodium for MR, CT, or nuclear imaging in 1992 and 1993. Patients received screening histories and physical examinations before sedation, and parents gave informed consent. Sedated patients were monitored by pulse oximetry and direct observation. Twenty-four-hour telephone follow-up to assess delayed side effects was performed successfully in 325 patients.

RESULTS Examinations were successfully completed in 96% of patients. The average time from drug administration to sedation was 12.2 minutes. The average time from sedation to discharge from radiology was 71.1 minutes. Eleven percent of patients had desaturation below the pulse oximetric baseline easily treated with oxygen and head positioning. Twenty-four-hour telephone follow-up in 325 patients revealed a 34% incidence of minor rectal irritation and diarrhea, sleepiness, nausea and vomiting, or ataxia.

CONCLUSIONS Rectal thiopental sodium is a safe and effective drug for pediatric sedation.