Procedural Sedation in Children

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 4, 2025.

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Aftercare
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AMBULATORY CARE:

What you need to know about procedural sedation:

Procedural sedation is medicine given during a procedure to help your child feel relaxed and calm. It may also be given to help decrease your child's movement during a procedure or treatment.

How to prepare your child for procedural sedation:

Your child's healthcare provider will tell you how to prepare your child. The provider may tell you not to give your child anything to eat or drink for 8 hours before procedural sedation. You can breastfeed your baby up until 4 hours before procedural sedation. You can give your older child clear liquids up until 2 hours before procedural sedation.
Tell the provider if your child has any allergies, breathing problems, or heart problems.
Tell your child's provider about all your child's current medicines. The provider will tell you if your child needs to stop any medicine for the sedation and when to stop. The provider will tell you which medicines to give or not give on the day of the sedation.
Arrange to have another adult with you on the ride home to watch your child for problems after sedation. A second adult can ride with your child in the backseat while you drive.

What will happen during procedural sedation:

Your child's healthcare provider will give your child enough medicine to keep him or her relaxed and calm.
Your child will be on a heart monitor and a pulse oximeter. A heart monitor is a safety device that stays on continuously to record the heart's electrical activity. A pulse oximeter is a device that measures blood oxygen levels. Your child may be give extra oxygen if his or her level is too low.

What to expect after procedural sedation:

Healthcare providers will monitor your child until he or she is awake.
As your child wakes up, he or she may cry or have trouble getting comfortable. This is common after sedation. Speak in a quiet, calm voice to help your child relax. Your child may be able to go home after he or she is alert, can sit up, and talk appropriately for his or her age. This may take 1 to 2 hours.
Your child may need more rest than usual for the first 24 hours after he or she goes home. Your child may be restless until the medicine is completely out of his or her system.
Your child may have a headache or nausea. Your child's skin may itch or his or her eyes may water. You may notice that your child has problems with short-term memory. Your child may feel weak or have trouble with his or her balance. These symptoms should go away within 24 hours.

Risks of procedural sedation:

Your child may not get enough sedation, or it may wear off quickly. Your child may feel restless during the procedure or as he or she wakes up.
Too much medicine can cause deep sedation. The provider may have trouble waking your child and he or she may need medicine to help wake up. Your child's breathing may not be regular, or it may stop. Your child may need a ventilator to help him or her breathe. Your child's risk for problems with sedation is higher if he or she has a heart or lung problem, a head injury, or a problem with development.

Call your local emergency number (911 in the US) if:

Your child cannot be woken.
Your child has trouble breathing.

Seek care immediately if:

Your child has a severe headache or dizziness, or cries constantly.
Your child's heart is beating faster than usual.

Call your child's doctor if:

Your child has a fever or chills.
Your child has nausea or is vomiting for longer than 8 hours after the procedure.
Your child's skin is itchy, swollen, or he or she has a rash.
You have questions or concerns about your child's condition or care.

Care for your child:

Watch your child closely for the next 24 hours. Do not leave your child alone in the bath or shower. Do not let your child cook, use appliances, or play outside unless you are watching him or her.
Limit your child's activity to prevent accidents. Have your child lie on the couch or rest quietly. Walk with your child to the bathroom. Do not let your child play sports or do vigorous activity. Do not let your child ride a bike, swim, play on swing sets, or play on jungle gyms. Your child can return to his or her normal activities in 24 hours.
Feed your child slowly to prevent nausea and vomiting. If your child is younger than 1 year, feed him or her half of the usual feeding 1 hour after sedation. Wait 2 hours after sedation to feed your older child. Start with clear liquids such as cranberry juice or ginger-ale. If your child does not vomit after clear liquids, start giving your child his or her usual foods. Make sure your child drinks plenty of liquids when he or she can drink without vomiting. Liquids help flush the medicine out of his or her body. Ask how much liquid to give your child and which liquids are best for him or her.

Follow up with your child's doctor as directed:

Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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