文本框: SEDATING CHILDREN: ARE HEALTHCARERS DOING IT RIGHT?
CHEW S.H.
Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia

Objective: The purpose of this Australian study is to determine the efficacy and safety of sedatives used in children undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging “MRI” from a nursing perspective, and revise the sedation protocol based on evidence.  
Methods: Nursing staff collected data on each patient at time of sedation by documenting dosage of sedative given, length of procedure, complete/incomplete scanning, sedation score and complications.   
Results: Of the three-series study of 214 patients at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, an overall sedation success rate of 74% without any adverse event or complications was the outcome.
Conclusion: This study supported sedation for diagnostic procedures, such as MRI, allowing completion of required procedure with children returning to normal activities as short as twenty minutes post-procedure, with no ill effect.  The results of the study led to a revision of the sedation protocol and of the information pamphlets provided to parents prior to admission/procedure and discharge.
0982