Induction Dose of Propofol for Pediatric Patients Undergoing Procedural Sedation in the Emergency Department
Pediatric Emergency Care, 05/07/2012  Clinical Article

Jasiak KD et al. – In pediatric patients undergoing procedural sedation in the emergency department (ED), age is an independent predictor of the dose of propofol required for induction of sedation. Therefore, younger patients may require higher doses by body weight (in milligram per kilogram).

• This is a retrospective study conducted in an academic, tertiary ED between May 2005 and October 2009.
• Medical records of patients younger than 18years who received propofol for procedural sedation were evaluated.
• Data collected included patient demographics, procedure type, propofol doses administered, time to sedation induction, pain scores before procedure, opioid administration, and adverse effects.
• Factors predictive of propofol induction dose were analyzed using linear regression analyses.

• Eighty-eight patients were included in the final analyses.
• The mean age was 11years (range, 1–17years), and 75% were male.
• The mean induction dose required was 2.1±1.3mg/kg using a median of 3 boluses (interquartile range, 2–4).
• The mean time to induction was 3.9±4.2minutes.
• In the linear regression analyses (R2=0.07), patient age was inversely predictive of the induction dose (in milligram per kilogram) of propofol (coefficient=-0.074; P=0.013).
• Sex, race, procedure type, pain score before procedure, and opioid administration were not predictive of induction dose.
• Transient respiratory depression occurred in 13.6% and hypotension occurred in 8% of patients, without further complications.