Oral meperidine, atropine, and pentobarbital for pediatric conscious sedation.

PURPOSE: To document the effectiveness and safety of using a combination of oral meperidine, atropine, and pentobarbital for pediatric conscious sedation.

METHOD: Sixty-three patients ages 6 months to 23 years (M = 5 years) undergoing outpatient cardiac catheterization were given an oral premedication consisting of meperidine, atropine, and pentobarbital for sedation. The effectiveness of the medication in providing sedation and the complication of over sedation when using a standard dose based upon weight were analyzed.

RESULTS

Seventy six percent of the patients were deemed sedated on arrival to the catheterization laboratory. Forty eight percent did not require any further sedation during the procedure. Need for further sedation was related to the length of the procedure. Three patients (4.8%) incurred complications of sedation; all three had received additional sedation during the procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of meperidine, atropine, and pentobarbital is a safe and effective premedication for cardiac catheterization when administered in standard dosage based upon body weight.