SummaryDuring cardiac catheterization, 202 children aged 1 month to 16 yrs were sedated intravenously half an hour after oral premedication with flunitrazepam 0.1 mg·kg−1(maximum dose 2 mg) to maintain spontaneous breathing and stable and calm conditions for the investigation. Standard fentanyl doses for induction and maintenance were 1 μg·kg−1and 1 μg·kg−1·h−1, respectively, for all patients. Requirements for supplementary ketamine for induction and maintenance of stable sedation were studied in five age groups (≤0.5 yr,>0.5–2 yr,>2.0–5.0 yr,>5.0–10.0 yr and>10.0 yr). Ketamine doses for induction were 1.5 ± 0.1, 1.5 ± 0.1, 1.2 ± 0.1, 0.9 ± 0.1 and 0.2 ± 0.1 (mean ± SEM) mg·kg−1in these age groups, respectively. Ketamine requirements for maintenance of sedation were 1.9 ± 0.1, 1.7 ± 0.1, 1.4 ± 0.1, 1.1 ± 0.1 and 0.2 ± 0.1 mg·kg−1·h−1in the same age groups, respectively. Age dependency of ketamine requirement was shown; the older the patient the less was the need for supplementation. Intravenous sedation with low‐dose fentanyl and ketamine after flunitrazepam premedication provided favoura
展开▼
