Key result
Rectal thiopental cuts nondiagnostic CT scans to ~0% vs IM cocktail and speeds sedation onset.
Why the study?
The comparative sedative effects and diagnostic quality of rectal thiopental versus an intramuscular cocktail in children undergoing CT were unclear.
Does rectal thiopental improve sedation and CT scan clarity compared to an intramuscular cocktail in pediatric patients undergoing CT?
Population
72 pediatric patients undergoing computerized tomography
Comparison
Rectal thiopental sodium (25-45 mg/kg) vs intramuscular cocktail of meperidine, chlorpromazine, and promethazine
Design
Randomized controlled trial with unblinded investigators and blinded radiologists
Follow-up
Duration of sedation and CT scan
Authors
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Rectal thiopental may be preferred for pediatric CT sedation; confirms RCT superiority in onset and diagnostic yield over intramuscular regimens.
RCT (n=72)
Single-blind (outcome assessors)
Randomly assigned
Does rectal thiopental improve sedation and CT scan clarity compared to an intramuscular cocktail in pediatric patients undergoing CT?
Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 14%
Rectal thiopental provides faster onset, shorter duration of sedation, and fewer nondiagnostic CT scans compared to an intramuscular cocktail in pediatric patients.
Burckart et al. (1980) conducted an RCT in Pediatric patients undergoing computerized tomography (CT) (n=72). Rectal thiopental sodium vs. Intramuscular cocktail (meperidine, chlorpromazine, promethazine) was evaluated on Nondiagnostic CT scans. Rectal thiopental before CT scans resulted in 0% nondiagnostic scans compared to 14% with an intramuscular cocktail, and achieved faster sedation onset (8 vs 18 minutes).
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