Analgosedation in pediatric cardiac patients. Results of a nationwide survey in Germany

Background and objective. In the field of pediatric cardiology there is a large need for (analgo)sedation (AS) for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures at various locations in hospitals. By means of a survey of all German hospitals for child and adolescent medicine where pediatric cardiologists are employed, the current status quo about performance and organization of AS in the clinical routine was analyzed. Material and methods. Taking account of existing guidelines and the normal practices in centers of pediatric cardiology, a questionnaire was developed and sent to the aforementioned hospitals in the summer of 2018. The questionnaire contained questions about organizational structures, medication, human resource (HR) requirements and use of staff in performing AS. Results. Out of the 127 hospitals contacted 92 completed questionnaires were received, which corresponds to a response rate of 72.4%. Sedation was predominantly carried out by pediatricians. Depending on the risk constellation and the kind of procedure, this quota varied between 72.2% and 100%. The most frequently used active substances were midazolam, ketamine/S-ketamine and propofol. Conclusion. The results of the survey confirmed that in many hospitals there are sufficient care structures in place for the performance of AS in pediatric cardiology patients. Pediatric guidelines on AS or appropriate statements of the specialist associations must now ensure the professional prerequisites that the performance of AS forms an integral part of the pediatric training curriculum and the corresponding HR requirements are reflected in the staff plan of the departments.