Conscious sedation for pediatric cardiac catheterization

Diagnostic procedures make up a major portion of the practice of pediatric cardiology. Patient cooperation, often for extended periods, is of utmost importance for successful complication of many pediatric cardiac diagnostic procedures particularly those involving infants and preschool-age children. This requires the use of sedation. Invasive procedures such as cardiac catheterization and transesophageal echocardiography may cause significant discomfort, necessitating the use of additional analgesic and amnesic agents. Multiple drugs or repeated dose may be required during lengthy procedures. Ensuring patient safety by appropriate cardiorespiratory monitoring is mandatory. This review focuses on the pharmacologic agents used in pediatric cardiac catheterization. The pharmacology, indications for usage, and the risks and benefits of commonly used agents are addressed