Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Mar 2004
Depth of consciousness and deep sedation attained in children as administered by nonanaesthesiologists in a children's hospital.
Sedation of children is administered by nonanaesthesiologists in a variety of locations within our children's hospital. The purpose of this study was to assess the depth of sedation administered to children in four locations using the Bispectral Index (BIS) and the University of Michigan Sedation Scale (UMSS). ⋯ Our data demonstrate wide variations in depth of sedation attained in the hospital. The goal of either conscious or deep sedation was not achieved in a significant number of children. This is a therapeutic failure that requires reassessment of sedation protocols and investigation of new approaches.