Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital’s pediatric sedation team is made up of critical care doctors and nurses who work together to safely administer sedation medication and carefully monitor your child while they are sedated. Also included on the team is a child life specialist who will meet with you and your child to help prepare them for their test or procedure.
The doctors and nurses on the pediatric sedation team will discuss with you which level of sedation is best for your child and the procedure they are having. Your input is highly valued to help the team provide the best plan of care for your child.
There are different levels of sedation ranging from a relaxed state, with the ability to respond normally to questions, to a deep sleep, where the child is asleep and difficult to wake with sound or touch.
Medications for sedation can be given:
Sedation can be done in an inpatient or outpatient setting at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital (YNHCH). When your child’s doctor orders a test they will discuss with you whether sedation is necessary. It is often necessary to help children be still and comfortable in order to obtain optimal results for:
Once your child’s doctor has requested sedation you will be contacted to set up an appointment for your child’s test. Five to seven days before your appointment one of the nurses from the pediatric sedation team will call you to review medical history, plan for sedation, feeding guidelines and arrival information for the day of your appointment. The pediatric sedation nurse will also review any testing that may need to be scheduled prior to your child receiving sedation.
It is essential for your child’s safety that they have an empty stomach before they are sedated. If you or your child have not followed the feeding guidelines your appointment will be rescheduled. The guidelines are as follows:
- 6 hours before the procedure stop all food and fluids except for water and apple juice
- 4 hours before the procedure stop breast milk
- 2 hours before the procedure stop all fluids. Your child may not have anything by mouth for 2 hours before the procedure.
Once you check in at the location of your child’s test you will be escorted to the pre-procedure area. You will meet with members of the pediatric sedation team including a pediatric intensive care doctor, a nurse who specializes in intensive care and sedation, and a child life specialist who provides age-appropriate education and distraction to your child while they are at the hospital.
These specialized staff will:
You can stay with your child while they fall asleep and often you can stay for the entire test or procedure.
Your child will be placed on a monitor before the doctor gives the medication for sedation to monitor their heartrate, breathing and blood pressure. Most medications will cause your child to become sleepy within just a few minutes after the doctor gives them.
A sedation doctor and nurse will be with your child during the entire procedure to make sure they are safe and comfortable.
Most children wake up within 30-60 minutes after their test is complete.
They can have a drink and something to eat when they wake up and then quickly resume their regular diet. It is uncommon for children to have nausea or vomiting after they are sedated.
Once they have something to eat or drink, they can go home. We recommend the rest of the day is relaxing as they may be dizzy or unsteady for several hours after. Do not do anything that requires concentration or coordination such as bike riding, swimming or driving. Most children can resume regular activities the following day.
For parents and caregivers. This virtual tour is designed to help you and your child know what to expect when they arrive at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital for a test or procedure that may require sedation.
You are coming to the hospital to get sleepy medicine for a procedure, which is a special test, or for special pictures.
When you get to the hospital, you will get a bracelet with your name and birthday on it.
A nurse will bring you to a room before you get sleepy medicine. The nurse will take your temperature and find out how much you weigh just like at the doctor’s office.
In this room, your nurse and doctor will talk with you and your grown up about why you are visiting the hospital. You will also meet a child life specialist, who is like a teacher at the hospital.
One way you may get sleepy medicine is by drinking medicine from a little cup.
Another way to get sleepy medicine is by breathing through a mask.
You can also get sleepy medicine from a nose spray.
The last way you may get sleepy medicine is through an IV. An IV is a small straw that goes in your hand or arm.
Before you get the sleepy medicine, the nurse will put special stickers, called monitors, on your body. These stickers will tell the doctor and nurse about your breathing and your heart.
Then you will fall asleep and be comfortable during your procedure or special pictures.
Once you wake up, your grownup will be with you in the wake up room. Then, you can have a snack and something to drink. Then you will go home.
