Abstract
Pediatric patients may need sedation for a transthoracic echocardiogram. Due to the unpredictability and safety concerns with chloral hydrate, we offered mask anesthesia as an alternate strategy. A retrospective chart review of 507 pediatric patients sedated for transthoracic echocardiography was conducted to compare the use of oral chloral hydrate (n = 297) with the face mask administration of sevoflurane anesthesia (n = 210). Anesthesia had a shorter time from administration of sedation to hospital discharge (112 vs 155 minutes), largely because of a shorter, more predictable, and less variable time to achieve satisfactory study conditions. Using anesthesia, an average 43-minute difference would allow for an additional procedure using the same resources. Anesthesia was not associated with sedation failure (0% vs 6%), and the duration of examination was shorter (40 vs 46 minutes). There were no significant adverse events in either cohort. Anesthesia, although more costly, is balanced by more the efficient use of hospital and parental resources, with greater family and staff satisfaction.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
