Neonatal and Pediatric Medicine
Open Access

Abstract

Pediatric sedation for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (pediatric procedural sedation) is an evolving, growing and dynamic field of pediatric practice in any hospital that cares for children. It is practiced by a diverse group of practitioners in an expanding variety of clinical settings. The aim of sedation during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in children is not only to control behavior and movement to allow safe performance of procedures but in addition to minimize physical pain and discomfort to control anxiety, minimize psychological trauma and maximize amnesia. Pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions that consider the child's developmental status and the clinical circumstances are often required to meet these goals. The increased availability of short-acting sedatives along with accurate noninvasive monitoring and improved sedation training programs has enabled effective and safe management of sedation and analgesia outside the operating room. Among the challenges that must be addressed are the development of standardized definitions of outcomes, particularly with respect to what constitutes satisfactory sedation and what is an adverse event. Unified guidelines would encourage consistent care across specialties.

Biography

Khaled Soliman Balahis is working as Associate Professor of Anesthesia from Ain Shams University and also Head of Anesthesia in the Department of Saudi German Hospital at Dubai. He has published 7 postdoctoral studies in the field of anesthesia.

E-mail: khaled_soly@yahoo.com