%0 Journal Article
%T Pediatric chloral hydrate poisonings and death following outpatient procedural sedation
%J Journal of medical toxicology
%D 2014
%A Nordt, Sean Patrick
%A Rangan, Cyrus
%A Hardmaslani, Madhu
%A Clark, Richard F.
%A Wendler, Carlan
%A Valente, Michael
%V 10
%N 2
%P 219-222
%X 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>
%G en
%I Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group
%@ 1556-9039
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13181-013-0358-z