Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Jan 2010
The efficacy and safety of oral pentobarbital sedation in pediatric echocardiography.
Because patient movement during echocardiography interferes with diagnostic quality, many institutions sedate children who are unable to cooperate. The purpose of this review was to determine the efficacy and safety of oral pentobarbital for sedation during pediatric transthoracic echocardiography. ⋯ Oral pentobarbital is an effective and safe sedative for pediatric transthoracic echocardiography. Because of decreased efficacy and an increased incidence of adverse events, alternative sedation strategies may be beneficial in children aged 1 to 4 years.