Volume 10, Issue 3 pp. 319-323

Sedation failures in children undergoing MRI and CT: is temperament a factor?

Terri Voepel-Lewis RN, MSN

Terri Voepel-Lewis RN, MSN

Department of Anesthesiology, Section of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA

Search for more papers by this author
Shobha Malviya MD

Shobha Malviya MD

Department of Anesthesiology, Section of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA

Search for more papers by this author
Gerrie Prochaska RN, BSN

Gerrie Prochaska RN, BSN

Department of Radiology, Section of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA

Search for more papers by this author
Alan R. Tait PhD

Alan R. Tait PhD

Department of Anesthesiology, Section of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 09 October 2008
Citations: 34
Terri Voepel-Lewis, Department of Anaesthesiology, F3900/Box 0211, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109–0211, USA.

Summary

This study examined the relationship between temperament and sedation failure during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT). One hundred and two children (aged 3–7 years) who underwent MRI or CT with or without sedation were studied. Demographics, sedatives administered, efficacy of sedation, and adverse events were recorded. Parents completed the Behavioural Style Questionnaire for 3–7 years olds during their wait. Eight children underwent MRI successfully without sedation, 83 were successfully sedated, and 11 procedures were aborted. Children whose sedation failed were less adaptable than children whose sedation was successful (P =0.04). Children who underwent MRI without sedation were more persistent than children who were sedated (P =0.05), and more persistent and less active than those whose sedation failed (P =0.02 and 0.03, respectively). The child's underlying temperament may contribute to sedation outcomes during MRI and CT. A presedation assessment of the child's temperament may therefore assist in decisions regarding sedation.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.