0
ARTICLE |

Risks to Children From Computed Tomographic Scan Premedication FREE

Allen A. Mitchell, MD; Carol Louik, MSc; Peter Lacouture; Dennis Slone, MD; Peter Goldman, MD; Samuel Shapiro, MB, FRCP(E)
[+] Author Affiliations

Presented in part at the Society for Pediatric Research, San Francisco, April 27, 1981.

Reprint requests to the Pediatric Drug Surveillance Program, Children's Hospital Medical Center, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115 (Dr Mitchell).


JAMA. 1982;247(17):2385-2388. doi:10.1001/jama.1982.03320420035028
Text Size: A A A
Published online

We observed serious adverse reactions after premedication for computed tomographic (CT) head scans and therefore determined rates and risk factors for such reactions among 106 hospitalized children monitored by an intensive drug surveillance program. Reactions occurred in 13 patients (13%), including four cases of life-threatening cardiorespiratory depression or arrest after narcotic premedication. Other reactions included CNS depression, behavior changes, voiding problems, and vomiting. The risk of reaction was elevated in subjects who received high doses of a premedication drug (relative risk, 5.2) and in those who received four or more premedication drugs (relative risk, 3.7). All life-threatening reactions occurred among infants younger than 3 months, and two of these followed medication with only morphine sulfate, in the recommended dose. Risks of adverse reactions from premedication should be considered by physicians who order CT scans for hospitalized children.

(JAMA 1982;247:2385-2388)

REFERENCES

Ferry PC:  Computed cranial tomography in children . J Pediatr 1980;;96:961-967.
Mitchell AA, Goldman P, Shapiro S, et al:  Drug utilization and reported adverse reactions in hospitalized children . Am J Epidemiol 1979;; 110:196-204.
Karch FE, Lasagna L:  Toward the operational identification of adverse drug reactions . Clin Pharmacol Ther 1977;;21:247-254.
Miettinen OS:  Estimability and estimation in case-referent studies . Am J Epidemiol 1976;; 103:226-235.
Lovejoy FH Jr, Mitchell AA, Goldman P:  The management of propoxyphene poisoning . J Pediatr 1974;;85:98-100.

Figures

Tables

Interactive Graphics

Video

Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

Ferry PC:  Computed cranial tomography in children . J Pediatr 1980;;96:961-967.
Mitchell AA, Goldman P, Shapiro S, et al:  Drug utilization and reported adverse reactions in hospitalized children . Am J Epidemiol 1979;; 110:196-204.
Karch FE, Lasagna L:  Toward the operational identification of adverse drug reactions . Clin Pharmacol Ther 1977;;21:247-254.
Miettinen OS:  Estimability and estimation in case-referent studies . Am J Epidemiol 1976;; 103:226-235.
Lovejoy FH Jr, Mitchell AA, Goldman P:  The management of propoxyphene poisoning . J Pediatr 1974;;85:98-100.
CME Course for:


You need to register in order to view this quiz.


To understand the clinical management of acute heart failure syndromes.
Accreditation Information The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The AMA designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM per course. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Physicians who complete the CME course and score at least 80% correct on the quiz are eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM.
Note: You must get at least of the answers correct to pass this quiz.
Note: You must get at least of the answers correct to pass this quiz.
You have not filled in all the answers to complete this quiz
The following questions were not answered:
Sorry, you have unsuccessfully completed this CME quiz with a score of
The following questions were not answered correctly:
For CME Course: A Proposed Model for Initial Assessment and Management of Acute Heart Failure Syndromes
Indicate what changes(s) you will implement in your practice, if any, based on this CME course.
To view and print your certificate and access a summary of your CME courses go to My CME.
NOTE:
Citing articles are presented as examples only. In non-demo SCM6 implementation, integration with CrossRef’s “Cited By” API will populate this tab (http://www.crossref.org/citedby.html).
Submit a Response

Some tools below are only available to our subscribers or users with an online account.

Related Content

Customize your page view by dragging & repositioning the boxes below.