Why use sedation procedures in children?
Medical procedures may frighten a child. Sedation decreases or even takes away anxiety and pain before, during and after a procedure. It can ease stress for a child. It also lets a child’s doctor get the very best results from the procedure.

Who is on the sedation team?
Our sedation team may include:

• Experienced pediatric intensive care and emergency room doctors
• Nurses specially trained in sedation techniques
• Respiratory therapists
• Child life specialists

The sedation team will put together a sedation plan that is safe, comfortable and effective. We will customize the plan to your child. The sedation team will assess your child’s needs and medical history.

What kind of sedation does the team use?
The sedation team will select a type of sedation based on the needs of your child and the particular procedure. One option is oral or intravenous (IV) medicine. Another option, if only mild sedation is needed, is nitrous oxide or “laughing gas.”

The team provides a spectrum of sedation ranging from a mild change in awareness to a deep sleep similar to anesthesia. The team chooses the least amount of sedation needed to carry out the procedure while keeping your child comfortable. If your child needs an IV for medicine, we numb the skin first with medicated cream. Our child life specialists can often help with relaxation and distraction techniques to support the actions of sedative medicines.

Where is pediatric sedation offered?
Mild sedation with nitrous oxide gas, suitable for many brief procedures, is offered both at St. Cloud Hospital and at the Pediatric Short Stay & Infusion Unit at CentraCare Health Plaza. Deeper levels of sedation are provided only at St. Cloud Hospital.

When is sedation needed?
Sedation is helpful for any procedure that may be painful, scary or stressful to a child. Examples include:

• Many radiology studies, including MRI, CT, kidney or bladder scans
• Lumbar puncture (“spinal taps”)
• Bone marrow aspirations and biopsies
• Invasive procedures, such as IV starts, Port-A-Cath accesses and catheter placements

Why choose St. Cloud Hospital for your child’s sedation?

• We believe in and practice patient- and family-centered care. We know the family is the center of a child’s world.
• We have pediatric intensive care and emergency room doctors experienced in providing pediatric sedation.
• We have an integrated sedation program with a specialized team who will care for and monitor your child throughout the entire process.
• We provide a sedation plan customized to the needs of your child.
• For radiology procedures, St. Cloud Hospital Imaging Services uses the latest techniques recommended by the Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging – the Image Gently program – to minimize radiation exposure.

What can parents expect?
A sedation nurse will give you complete information before, during and after the sedation procedure. Based upon the level of sedation needed, your child may feel a bit sleepy or unsteady for some hours afterwards. Most children are ready to go home within two hours of completing the sedation.

How can you get more information about our sedation program?
Call your doctor for more information. For radiology procedures and scans, call St. Cloud Hospital Imaging Services at (320) 255-5619.