Society of Nuclear Medicine Procedure Guideline for Pediatric Sedation in Nuclear Medicine version 3.0, approved January 25, 2003 Authors: Gerald A. Mandell, MD (DuPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE); Massoud Majd, MD (Children’s Na-tional Medical Center, Washington, DC); Eglal I. Shalaby-Rana, MD (Children’s National Medical Center, Washington,DC); and Isky Gordon, MD (Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London, UK). Introduction
must be prepared to manage all levels of sedationand general anesthesia, even if only conscious seda-
The increasing complexity of pediatric nuclear
medicine studies has led to a greater use of sedation. These recommendations for sedation of selectedchildren undergoing nuclear medicine procedures
III. Published Rules Concerning Pediatric Seda-
are generated to provide assistance to those institu-
tions without pediatric sedation guidelines alreadyin place and are not intended to replace satisfactory
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health
existing policies. Sedation is no substitution for ade-
Care Organizations mandates an institution-wide
quate child and parent preparation. Friendly staff
policy for pediatric sedation. It is advisable to follow
geared to children, with sufficient time allocated for
each institution’s established sedation policy, if such
each pediatric examination, will reduce the need for
a policy exists. Guidelines for the monitoring and se-
sedation with many examinations such as dimercap-
dation of children are published by the American
tosuccinic acid and dynamic renography.
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). These guidelines arequite extensive and include documentation, in-
II. Definitions
formed consent, patient preparation, pre-sedationevaluation, monitoring, post-sedation care, dis-
Sedation is a medically controlled state of depressed
charge criteria, and instructions, as well as follow-up
consciousness or unconsciousness. Sedation can bedivided into conscious sedation, deep sedation, and
general anesthesia. In conscious sedation, the pa-tient maintains the ability to respond to external
IV. Benefits of Sedation
stimulation. In deep sedation, patients are not easilyaroused. In general anesthesia, patients are not
There are several uses of sedation in nuclear
medicine. First, some procedures, such as SPECT or
The important clinical distinction between these
high-resolution pinhole imaging, require that the
states revolves around the ability of the patient to
child remain absolutely still for extended periods of
maintain his or her protective reflexes. The con-
time. Sedation can reduce patient motion during
sciously sedated patient maintains protective re-
these prolonged image acquisitions. The second use
flexes, such as gagging and swallowing, and there-
of sedation is to allow performance of a procedure
fore can keep his or her airway patent without
that requires the cooperation of an older child who
assistance. The deeply sedated patient may lose
refuses to cooperate. Typically, patients in this
these reflexes and may not be able to maintain his or
group have an exaggerated fear of the procedure be-
her airway. The patient under general anesthesia has
cause of a developmental disability, previous health
lost protective reflexes and is unable to maintain hisor her airway.
care experiences, or a traumatic experience, such as
There are no sharp boundaries between conscious
physical or sexual abuse. Third, patient sedation can
sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia.
enhance patient care by minimizing discomfort.
Furthermore, patients may rapidly move from con-
These recommendations provide suggestions on
scious sedation through deep sedation to general
how to use sedation to maximize the quality of
anesthesia. Therefore, clinics that sedate children
imaging procedures while minimizing the risks. V. Risks of Sedation
ATI continually monitors the patient with a pulseoximeter throughout the procedure. The patient is
The risks of sedation include hypoventilation, ap-
monitored until awakening and the institution’s dis-
nea, airway obstruction, cardiopulmonary arrest,
and the morbidity and mortality associated withthese events. Obtaining a medical history, includingallergies, as well as appropriate personnel and
VII. Avoidance of Sedation
equipment, reduce the likelihood of such untoward
For many pediatric nuclear procedures, sedation
events. The providers of sedation must be able to
and its attendant risks are avoidable by having an at-
recognize these risks and respond rapidly with ap-
tentive and caring approach to children. The pain of
propriate and effective treatment. The decision to se-
most nuclear medicine procedures is limited to a sin-
date the child must involve a careful comparison of
gle venipuncture or catheterization of the bladder.
the risks and the benefits. The patient should be as-
For patients in whom the pain of venipuncture is a
sessed by the physician supervising the sedation
limiting factor, topical lidocaine preparations are
and assigned an American Society of Anesthesiolo-
available. These are best used 1–2 h before injection. They may be prescribed before the procedure and
ASA Classification
applied by a parent at home before arriving in the
nuclear medicine clinic. Xylocaine jelly can be usedfor difficult urethral catheterizations (particularly in
males). Giving full information about the examina-
Severe systemic disease, but not incapacitating
tion to the parents and child at the time the appoint-ment is made reduces anxiety levels in both parents
Severe systemic disease that is a constant threat
Many nonpharmacologic strategies are available to
Moribund, not expected to live 24 h, irrespective
help the child cooperate and hold still during a nu-
clear medicine exam. Cooperation can be maximized
An e is added to the status number to designate an emergency
in many instances by allowing the parents to be with
their child during the examination and letting thechild have the comfort of a pacifier, bottle, blanket, or
An organ donor is usually designated as class 6.
stuffed animal. Depending on the age of the child, areassuring description of the procedure can be pro-
gists (ASA) classification. If the patient is assigned
vided before and during the procedure by a technol-
an ASA classification of 3 or more, then this patient
ogist who has good rapport with children. The room
should probably be sedated by the anesthesiologist.
can be decorated to make it more interesting andcomfortable for the child. The distraction of a child’sattention by reading of a story or viewing television
VI. Appropriate Personnel and Equipment
or a VCR allows reduction of patient motion. Parents
Safe sedation requires an appropriately trained indi-
can be instructed to schedule the procedure during
vidual (ATI) with experience and training in pedi-
the younger child’s nap time to maximize the
atric sedation, pediatric airway maintenance, and
chances that he or she will sleep during the proce-
pediatric advanced life support (PALS). The ATI not
dure. In addition, a “papoose,” sandbags, or adhe-
only explains the sedation procedure to the family
sive tape can be used to restrain infants and younger
but also screens the child for negative outcome fac-
children. Use of these strategies can avoid sedation
tors, such as significant upper airway obstruction,
while allowing acquisition of quality images.
apnea, reactive airway disease, risk for vomiting andaspiration, and uncontrolled seizures. A consulta-
VIII. Choosing a Sedation Regimen
tion with a pediatric anesthesiologist or intensivistabout a child with risk factors may be necessary be-
Sedation regimens vary greatly from one institution
to another and even among physicians in the same
An emergency cart with equipment and drugs
department. There is no consensus on the best pro-
suitable for children of all ages and sizes should be
tocol for the sedation of children. The choice of
readily available. Functioning suction apparatus
drugs and route of administration depends on the
with appropriate suction catheters, as well as a pos-
patient’s age, history of underlying illness (e.g.,
itive-pressure oxygen delivery system capable of ad-
mental deficiency, cardiac or respiratory illness), ex-
ministering >90% oxygen, are also mandatory. The
perience and familiarity with certain drugs, institu-
SOCIETY OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE PROCEDURE GUIDELINES MANUAL MARCH 2003
tional protocols, length of procedure, and availabil-
and Thorazine), is rarely necessary for most nuclear
medicine procedures. Also, opiates may cause respira-
In infants and young children, rectally or (more
tory depression, especially if administered rapidly.
commonly) orally administered drugs are adequate
Ketamine can cause hallucinations in older children.
for sedation. Rectal absorption tends to be erratic,
Midazolam can be used alone or as an adjunct
and the oral method is usually the preferred route of
with other sedation drugs, such as opiates and bar-
administration. Chloral hydrate is commonly used
biturates, and may be used orally, intravenously,
in infants and young children (usually up to 15 kg)
rectally, or intranasally. Recently, there is a growing
and is recommended by the AAP as an “effective
enthusiasm for the use of intranasal midazolam with
sedative with a low incidence of acute toxicity when
its predominantly amnestic effect in children under-
administered orally in the recommended dosage for
going pre-anesthetic sedation, echocardiography, or
short-term sedation.” Chloral hydrate in a dose of
short surgical procedures. Nasally administered mi-
50–70 mg/kg (maximum total accumulated dose of
dazolam in a dose of 0.2 mg/kg has been shown to
100 mg/kg) is usually adequate to achieve sedation.
have very minimal respiratory depression and a rel-
The maximum total dose varies according to the
atively short duration of sedation, approximately
guidelines of the individual institution.
35–45 min. Orally administered midazolam in a dose
In older patients and children with mental defi-
of 0.5–0.75 mg/kg is available in flavored syrup. Al-
ciencies, parenteral sedation, usually intravenous,
though the rate of absorption is slower than in-
may be the preferred method. Intravenous sedation
tranasally administered midazolam, the unpleasant-
allows for rapid induction and recovery, with better
ness of the nasal drops is avoided and, in general,
scheduling of sedation cases during high volume pe-
the oral form is better accepted by patients. It obvi-
riods. However, intravenous sedation must be
ates the need for intravenous access and may be
titrated for each patient, using the recommended
suited for some nuclear medicine procedures. It also
has a predominantly amnestic effect in children un-
Pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal) is popular be-
dergoing pre-anesthetic sedation, echocardiogra-
cause it is a short-acting barbiturate with low inci-
phy, urethral catheterization, and short surgical pro-
dence of respiratory depression. It is commonly
cedures. The exact dosages and preferred routes of
used in dosages of 2–6 mg/kg. The maximum
administration should be ascertained from the
dosage varies according to the guidelines of the in-
guidelines of the individual institution.
dividual institution. Nembutal is contraindicated
The nuclear medicine physician should consult with
in patients with porphyria and may require higher
the anesthesiology department in each institution for
doses in patients being treated for seizure disor-
specific recommendations on dosages and combina-
ders. Versed is often coupled with Nembutal in
tions of sedative drugs. Consultation with an anesthe-
doses of 0.1 mg/kg intravenously, for a maximum
siologist is particularly important in patients with a
total dose of 2.5 mg. Other intravenous sedation
history of significant snoring, abnormal airway (i.e.,
regimens (opiates and benzodiazepines) are used
micrognathia), congenital heart disease, reactive air-
less frequently in the pediatric population. Rever-
ways disease, and increased intracranial pressure.
sal drugs are required to treat overdoses, such asnaloxone (Narcan) for opiates and flumazenil (Ro-
IX. Developing a Sedation Policy
Classes of drugs used for parenteral sedation:
A written pediatric sedation policy is strongly rec-
Dosages vary and can be generated by the pediatric
ommended. The policy should follow institution-
anesthesiology or critical care section of the individ-
wide policy for pediatric sedation and also follow
the guidelines of the AAP. Many institutions have
•Barbiturates including pentobarbital sodium
sedation committees with representation from anes-
thesiology, nursing, intensive care, pediatrics, and
•Opiates including meperidine (Demerol) and
pediatric imaging. This committee can serve as a
source of information for the development of the se-
•Benzodiazepines including diazepam (Valium)
Written medication protocols for sedation are also
•Phenothiazines including chlorpromazine (Tho-
strongly recommended. Many sedation protocols
are available for pediatric sedation, not all of which
•Neuroleptic agents including ketamine (Ketalar)
are appropriate for nuclear imaging procedures. The
Sedation protocols use drugs singly or in combina-
exact protocol or set of protocols should be tailored
tion. The use of analgesic opiates, such as fentanyl and
to the age of the patient, the pain or discomfort level
meperidine (as part of DPT––Demerol, Phenergan
of the procedure, the length of the imaging proce-
dure, and, most important, the experience of physi-
Pereira JK, Burrows PE, Richards HM, et al. Com-
cians in each clinic. The best source of specific seda-
parison of sedation regimens for pediatric outpa-
tion protocols is likely to be the institution’s anes-
tient CT. Pediatr Radiol. 1993;23:341–344.
thesiologist or intensivist, or preferably, pediatric
Diament MJ, Stanley P. The use of midazolam for se-
anesthesiologist or pediatric intensivist. These indi-
dation of infants and children. Am J Roentgenol.
viduals should have the greatest experience in seda-
tion and should know the latest information on var-
Burrows PE. Pediatric sedation for nuclear medicine
procedures. In: Treves ST, ed. Pediatric Nuclear
The AAP recommends that written informed con-
Medicine. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Springer-Ver-
sent be obtained from parents according to each in-
stitution’s protocol. Consultation with the institu-
Snodgrass WR, Dodge WF. Lytic/DPT cocktail: time
tion’s legal counsel may be helpful to determine
for rational and safe alternatives. Pediatr Clin
guidelines for obtaining such consent. North Am. 1989;36:1285–1291.
Adrian ER. Intranasal versed: the future of pediatric
Issues Requiring Further Clarification
conscious sedation. Pediatr Nurs. 1994;20:287–292.
Latson LA, Cheatham JP, Gumbiner CH, et al. Mi-
dazolam nose drops for outpatient echocardio-graphy sedation in infants. Am Heart J. XI. Concise Bibliography
Louon A, Reddy VG. Nasal midazolam and ke-
American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on
tamine for paediatric sedation during computer-
Drugs. Guidelines for monitoring and manage-
ized tomography. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand.
ment of pediatric patients during and after seda-
tion for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Pediatrics. 1992;89:1110–1115. XII. Disclaimer
Keeter S, Benator RM, Weinberg SM, et al. Sedation
in pediatric CT: national survey of current prac-
The Society of Nuclear Medicine has written and
tice. Radiology. 1990;175:745–752.
approved guidelines to promote the cost-effective
American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on
use of high-quality nuclear medicine procedures.
Drugs and Committee on Environmental Health.
These generic recommendations cannot be applied
Use of chloral hydrate for sedation in children.
to all patients in all practice settings. The guide-
Pediatrics. 1993;92:471–473.
lines should not be deemed inclusive of all proper
Greenberg SB, Faerber EN, Aspinall CL, et al. High-
procedures or exclusive of other procedures rea-
dose sedation for children undergoing MR imag-
sonably directed to obtaining the same results. The
ing: safety and efficacy in relation to age. Am J
spectrum of patients seen in a specialized practice
Roentgenol. 1993;161:639–641.
setting may be quite different from the spectrum of
Greenberg SB, Faerber EN, Radke JL, et al. Sedation of
patients seen in a more general practice setting.
difficult-to-sedate children undergoing MR imag-
The appropriateness of a procedure will depend in
ing: value of thioridazine as an adjunct to chloral
part on the prevalence of disease in the patient
hydrate. Am J Roentgenol. 1994;163:165–168.
population. In addition, the resources available to
Strain JD, Harvey LA, Foley LC, et al. intravenously
care for patients may vary greatly from one medi-
administered pentobarbital sodium for sedation
cal facility to another. For these reasons, guidelines
in pediatric CT. Radiology. 1986;161:105–108.
Strain JD, Campbell JB, Harvey LA, et al. IV Nembu-
Advances in medicine occur at a rapid rate. The
tal: safe sedation for children undergoing CT.
date of a guideline should always be considered in
Am J Roentgenol. 1988;151:975–979.
determining its current applicability.
SOCIETY OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE PROCEDURE GUIDELINES MANUAL MARCH 2003
ADDENDUM #1 Ambulatory Sedation Assessment & Flow Sheet Sedation Order
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Flow Sheet Medication Comments and Route Time Study Completed PSD Criteria For Outpatients TIME Respiratory Status: 2=Spontaneous unassisted respirations 0=Assisted respirations (chin support, oxygen, etc.) Level Of Consciousness: 2=Awake and oriented to name and/or age for child over 3 years 2=Awake and activity appropriate for age if child under 3 years of age (as pre-sedation) 1=Lethargic but arousable 0=Nonarousable Vital Signs (VS) 2=VS within 20% of pre-sedation value 1=VS within 20-30% of pre-sedation value 0=VS variance greater than ± 30% of pre-sedation value Vomiting 2=No vomiting 1=Vomiting more than 2 times 0=Persistent vomiting, requiring medication Discharge Instructions To: _______________________________________________________________________________ Verbalized Understanding? _______________________________________________________________________________ Progress Note _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ Discharge Date/Time _______________________________________________________________________________
❒ Wheelchair
❒ Ambulatory
❒ Carried _______________________________________________________________________________ Signature(s) _______________________________________________________________________________ Ambulatory Sedation Assessment & Flow Sheet
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