Pediatric Sedation Unit
Our mission is to provide safe, compassionate, and family-centered sedation care tailored to the specific age and developmental needs of children and young adults. Our dedicated sedation team is led by board-certified pediatric critical care physicians and nurses who specialize in delivering sedation care to the highest quality standards of safety and comfort. With a deep understanding of children’s unique medical and emotional needs, we are committed to creating a calm, supportive environment that prioritizes each child’s well-being and eases the experience for families every step of the way.
What We Do
We support infants, children, adolescents, and young adults (up to 23 years old), through a wide range of procedures, including:
· Diagnostic imaging, e.g. MRI, CT, nuclear medicine, ultrasound
· IV placements and blood draws
· Urinary catheter insertions
· Minor surgical procedures
· Sedated hearing tests
· And many more!
Frequently Asked Questions
What will happen on the day of the procedure?
Arrive at your scheduled time (typically at least 1 hour before the procedure), which gives us the time we need to introduce you and your child to the sedation team, review your child’s medical history, and discuss the plan with you. It’s important to be open and honest with our team so we can provide the best possible care for your child. Please be prepared to talk about the following:
· Breathing or heart problems
· Prior exposure to anesthesia (sedation medication)
· Prescribed and over-the-counter medications
· Allergies to food or drugs
· Recent illness or fever
· Last time your child ate and drank
Why can’t my child eat and drink?
To keep your child safe duration sedation, it’s very important that their stomach is empty. This means they can’t eat or drink for a certain amount of time before the procedure. When a child is sedated, food or liquid in the stomach could come back up and accidently go into the lungs while they are feeling sleepy—this is called aspiration, and it can be very serious. The sedation nurse will provide the times that your child should stop eating and drinking in the pre-procedure phone call.
How long will it last?
The length of the procedure will vary based on what’s being done. Sedation usually wears off in 1-2 hours after the procedure but can vary with every child. We strongly encourage you to be in your child’s room when his or her procedure is finished. Your child will be monitored in the PSU until he or she is:
· Fully awake
· Able to drink clear liquids
· Able to return to normal physical activity
Postponements or cancellation
If your child is sick or has developed a new medical condition, your child’s procedure may be postponed or canceled. Please understand that we cancel procedures only after a great deal of consideration and to achieve the highest level of patient safety. If your child may be getting sick prior to their scheduled procedure, please give us a call!
How can I request sedation for my child?
Discuss with your child’s healthcare provider (who is requesting the procedure) about the option for sedation. Your child’s healthcare provider can send us a request so that we can begin the process of reviewing your child’s medical history and sedation needs. We are happy discuss over the phone and answer any questions (see Contact Information).
Have feedback for us?
Our team is dedicated to providing world class sedation services for our littlest heroes – the sons and daughters of our military members. As a learning organization, we are constantly improving. Please let us know about your experience thorough this link https://ice.disa.mil/index.cfm?fa=card&sp=143920.