Our hospital has adopted procedural sedation as a standard protocol for young patients who are undergoing procedures that require the child to keep still. This practice is considered very safe. This excludes procedural sedation done in children’s emergency department.
What is Procedural Sedation Analgesia (PSA)?
In procedural sedation, medicines are used to sedate children who need to undergo short and/or painful hospital procedures. Some of these include:
The sedative may be administered orally or through injection. In painful procedures, analgesic (painkillers) and/or local anaesthetic medications may also be prescribed. Your child will be monitored closely throughout the procedure.
Commonly used drugs are:
Are there any side effects?
Side effects of the medicines used for PSA include:
Your child will be monitored closely during the procedure and prompt interventions will be instituted for side effects. Most side effects are self-limiting and usually resolve after one to two hours, or after treatment.
It is rare for the child to develop a bad allergic reaction to the medicines used in PSA. Appropriate and prompt treatment will be instituted if it occurs.
Is fasting required?
Yes. A minimum of THREE hours of fasting is necessary before administration of sedative, or as instructed by the doctor or nurse. MRI scan will require a fasting of 6 hours.
Who is not suitable for PSA?
Who are at higher risk of PSA?
However, the pros and cons of PSA will be discussed with you by your doctor depending on the urgency of the procedure.
What happens after PSA?
After returning from PSA, parents should:
Useful information
As consent for procedural sedation is required, a parent/legal guardian should accompany the child for the procedure.
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