@article{ref1,
title="Pediatric chloral hydrate poisonings and death following outpatient procedural sedation",
journal="Journal of medical toxicology",
year="2014",
author="Nordt, Sean Patrick and Rangan, Cyrus and Hardmaslani, Madhu and Clark, Richard F. and Wendler, Carlan and Valente, Michael",
volume="10",
number="2",
pages="219-222",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: Chloral hydrate has been used medicinally since the 1800 s as a sedative hypnotic, most commonly for procedural sedation. As it is administered orally and available in a liquid formulation, it is used almost exclusively in pediatric patients despite many safer and more effective alternative agents being available. CASE SERIES: We present three cases of pediatric chloral hydrate poisoning, all occurring following procedural sedation in outpatient clinic settings and presenting to the emergency department. The ages ranged from 15 months to 4 years of age and all required resuscitation. Unfortunately, the 4-year-old died. CONCLUSION: Choral hydrate is associated with significant adverse effects, including death, and safer alternatives for pediatric procedural sedation should be sought and utilized. There are a number of more effective sedative agents with more predictable pharmacokinetic and safety profiles than chloral hydrate including parenteral and oral agents. The practice of pre-procedure sedation should be performed only in a supervised setting where cardiorespiratory monitoring can occur in all cases.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1556-9039",
doi="10.1007/s13181-013-0358-z",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13181-013-0358-z"
}