Use of Intravenous Methohexital as a Sedative in Pediatric Emergency Departments

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of intravenous methohexital as a sedative in children undergoing emergency computed tomographic scans. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: An urban pediatric emergency department at a level I trauma center. PARTICIPANTS: Patients receiving intravenous methohexital for sedation to undergo emergency computed tomographic scans. METHODS: Descriptive data were generated, including demographics, doses administered, times of sedation, outcomes, and complications. RESULTS: Data are reported from a total of 55 patients. The doses administered ranged from 0.5 mg/kg to 2.0 mg/kg (mean +/- SD, 1 +/- 0.5 mg/kg). Onset of sedation was rapid (mean +/- SD, 1 +/- 0.4 minutes), sedation was brief (mean +/- SD, 12 +/- 5 minutes), and the mean +/- SD length of the drug's effects was 14 +/- 6 minutes. Sedation was effective in most cases, and only a few patients had complications. CONCLUSION: Intravenous methohexital is a short-acting and effective sedative for use in pediatric emergency departments to obtain computed tomographic scans.