Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid sedation in neonates and children undergoing MR imaging.

BACKGROUND

Insufficient sedation in pediatric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results in prolonged examination time. To describe the efficacy and side effects of sedation with Phenobarbital short-time infusion followed by continuous gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) infusion in neonates and children for MRI examinations in a retrospective study.

PATIENTS: With Institutional Review Board approval 94 children (Group I: 1-4 weeks; Group II: >1 to 6 months; Group III: >6 months) were sedated with phenobarbital 10 mg/kg (maximum 200 mg) intravenously 30 min prior to examination. Than intravenous sedation was maintained with GHB 10 mg/kg/h after a priming dose of 30 mg/kg in 20 min.

RESULTS

In group 1 all neonates (n=8) were well sedated without side effect. One of 21 infants in group 2 showed restlessness and the MRI failed. Two of 65 patients of group 3 were not sufficiently sedated and one of them vomited.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-invasive diagnostic procedures in neonates and children may be managed by phenobarbital and GHB sedation with side effects or failure of 3%.