Reduced frequency of sedation of young children with multisection helical CT

PURPOSE: To determine whether the use of multisection helical computed tomography (CT) can decrease the need for sedation compared with single-section helical CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The number of children who required sedation to undergo body CT with a multisection helical scanner was recorded. The authors noted the type of examination and whether contrast material was used. The children were categorized according to age (less than or equal to 17 years, less than or equal to 6 years, less than or equal to 1 year). RESULTS: In 219 CT examinations, only three children required sedation (1.4%). The sedation rate was 3% (three of 90) for children aged 6 years or younger and 8% (three of 37) for those aged 1 year or younger. Examinations were of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis in 68 patients, of the abdomen and pelvis in 112, and of the chest alone in 39. Contrast material was intravenously administered in 186 (85%) examinations. All scans were of diagnostic quality. CONCLUSION: The rate of sedation was reduced threefold with multisection helical CT compared with standard helical CT, and the need for sedation was eliminated in some age groups.