Efficacy and Safety of Sedatives in Infants and Young Children Undergoing MRI

Abstract

Sedation is necessary for MRI examinations in children who have difficulty restraining their body movements. We prepared a sedative protocol using triclofos, which is widely used in Japan, and evaluated its efficacy and safety. We retrospectively reviewed the planned MRI examinations in children aged from 1 month to 7 years old between October 2014 and March 2017. Patients considered to be at high risk for sedation were excluded. Triclofos 60 to 80 mg/kg was orally administered, and midazolam, hydroxyzine or pentazocine was added intravenously when sedation was insufficient. With this regimen, the planned MRI examinations were completed in 223 of 225 patients, and the median dose of triclofos was 68.2 mg/kg. One hundred fifty-two patients (68.2%) were sedated with triclofos alone, and 71 (31.8%) required multiple drugs. The median age, median dose of triclofos, average sedation time, and number of adverse events were significantly higher in the multiple drug group. The cut-off age of patients who could be sedated with triclofos alone was 16 months. The multiple drug group tended to be older, leading to prolonged sedation time and an increase in adverse events.