Chloral hydrate to study auditory brainstem response.

UNLABELLED Chloral Hydrate (CH) is a sedative and hypnotic drug used in pediatric procedures owing to the low depressive effect it has on the respiratory and cardiac systems. AIM To assess the efficacy of the drug in performing ABR and to systematize its use. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective cross-sectional study with 41 children without history of heart or lung disease. The initial dose of CH at 10% was 50 mg/Kg, with a boost dose of 6 mg/Kg administered 30 minutes later in cases in which there was no sedation. Drug effectiveness was established by sleep induction by 1 hour after the administration of the initial dose. Sleep occurrence was correlated with doses (50 mg or 56 mg/Kg), age, weight and gender. RESULTS All the 41 children who participated in the study took 50 mg/kg of the agent and 23 of them slept within 30 minutes, 2 had respiratory complications, 16 had the 6 mg/Kg boost dose and 13 fell asleep after 30 minutes. The 56 mg/kg dose presented a statistically significant effect on sleep induction (p<0.05) when compared to the 50mg/kg dose. CONCLUSION CH produced a satisfactory effect with 50 mg/Kg dose plus 6 mg/kg up to one hour after administration. Complications can occur regardless of the dose used.