Abstracts

Electroencephalogram(EEG) is needed for evaluation of pediatric neurology patients for various indications,the most common being seizure disorder Chloral hydrate is very widely used oral sedative hypnotic drug in pediatric practice. Sedation is occasionally needed in young children undergoing electroencephalogram (EEG).The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of chloral hydrate sedation in children undergoing EEG as a diagnostic procedure. It is a prospective study over 15 months involving consucative 41 children who had undergone outpatient EEG with oral chloral hydrate. A sedation flowsheet questionnaire was filled up for each patient.The following parameters were recorded in the flowsheet.(1) Food or drink taken before the EEG as per guidelines of the sedation flowsheet.(2)Any respiratory illness before sedation.(3)Weight of the child.(4)Dose of chloral hydrate given in mg/kg.(5)Drug lost by spitting if any.(6)Time taken to fall asleep.(7)Effectiveness of sedation scored as very effective,somewhat effective and hardly effective.(8) Any repeat sedation if required and number of times.(9)Any problems during sedation like vomiting,restlessness,respiratory distress or awakening during procedure. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of variable factors included in the questionnaire on the effectiveness of sedation. Side effects and complications of chloral hydrate were recorded. No significant side effects or complications were observed in any of the children undergoing EEG under sedation with chloral hydrate. Restlessness and awakening during the procedure occurred in 6 (14.6%) of children out of which 4 (9.8%) had EEG successfully completed but EEG had to be interrupted in 2 (4.8%) of children.However , EEG could be read and interpretated in these 2 cases as well. Children greater than two years of age and those more than fifteen killograms were better sedated than their counterparts. Children who had food before sedation were more effectively sedated as compared to those who were strictly nil per mouth.Respiratory tract infections had a negative effect on the effectiveness of sedation.There were two children who had mild upper respiratory tract infection before the sedation was given,both of whom showed no respiratory depression during the procedure. Oral chloral hydrate is a very safe and effective means of sedating children for a simple yet time consuming procedure like EEG. It would be unnecessary to subject a child to general anesthesia knowing all its side effects and complications. Chloral hydrate sedation is both more cost and time effective for the children undergoing EEG.