KidEase at Bridgeport Hospital

Ever tried to hold on to a wriggling three-year-old while you get her into her sneakers? Then you can imagine how hard it is for an anxious child to stay absolutely still for a 30–minute medical procedure such as an MRI.

At Bridgeport Hospital, our KidEase service makes procedures like these easier on your child—and you!—by helping your child relax before the procedure. We can do this with distraction techniques, such as a therapy dog or play therapy; or we can give the child a medication to make him or her relax or even sleep through the procedure. The medication may be given by mouth, by shot or by IV (intravenous line).

KidEase provides sedation for a variety of tests and procedures, including

• CAT scan
• MRI
• ultrasound
• echocardiogram (to see inside the heart)
• electroencephalogram (to see brain wave patterns)
• dressing change
• intravenous (IV) medications
• any procedure that may cause anxiety or pain, or for which the child needs to remain still

Before the procedure, the KidEase team will explain the sedation to be used and what you can expect to happen. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask.

The test itself may take from 30 to 60 minutes to complete, but preparation time and post-sedation monitoring may add another 2–3 hours.

Sedation Guidelines

It is best to have your child as tired as possible before the test. We suggest the following routine:

1. Keep the child up as late as possible the evening before appointment.

2. Try to not let your child sleep late on the appointment day.

Please understand that the medication does not always work. Some children DO NOT respond, so please do not get upset with your child or the medication if this is the case.

Fasting Guidelines

It is best for your child to have an empty stomach while under sedation. The following guidelines are recommended:

1. If your child is scheduled for a morning test you may give them a clear liquid breakfast including Jell-O®, Popsicle® or Italian ice up to two hours before appointment time.

2. If your child is scheduled for an afternoon test you may give them a normal breakfast six hours before your scheduled arrival for the test. Then follow guidelines for clear liquids up to two hours before the appointment.

If you have any questions, please call Yvonne Wilkins, RN, Nurse Coordinator, or Mary Lou Gaeta, MD, Medical Director, at 384-3250.

Helping Your Child Before the Procedure

• Ask the doctor or nurse to explain the procedure to you and to your child in child-friendly terms.
• Talk to your child about some ways to cope (looking at an interactive book, using his/her imagination to be in a nice place, blowing bubbles).
• Try not to show your own nervousness.
• Avoid bringing food into the room; your child will need to have an empty stomach prior to sedation.

Helping Your Child During the Procedure

• You are welcome to stay with your child during the procedure.
• The level at which you will be able to interact with your child will depend on how deeply sedated your child becomes. Your child may need reminders of the coping methods you decided upon earlier. For example, "blow away the hurt." This sort of distraction is very helpful.
• Giving your child a sense of control with some simple choices is helpful. We can allow him/her to choose music or videos to play during the procedure, or which finger the oxygen probe may be placed on.
• However, it is not helpful to allow your child to decide the exact moment the procedure is going to occur.

Helping Your Child After the Procedure

• A member of the KidEase team will remain with your child the entire time he or she is sedated. This can be a good time for you to stretch your legs.
• When your child awakens, he or she will be given clear liquids such as diluted fruit juice or Jell-O®.
• For your child's safety, do not take him or her home until the KidEase team tells you it is safe to do so. Some families may need to wait for an hour or more after the procedure.
• Focus on the good things your child did. For example, “You did a great job blowing away the hurt.”

For the Next 24 hours

Your child may be a bit confused, sleepy or clumsy for the next 24 hours. Be extra careful in caring for and supervising your child during this period.

• If your child falls asleep in the car seat, watch to make sure that s/he does not have any difficulty breathing. DO NOT leave your child alone in a car seat or alone in the car.
• Let your child sleep. Children commonly sleep more because of the sedation, and may go to sleep again after getting home from the hospital.
• Check on your child's sleeping pattern the night after getting home. If his or her sleeping seems heavy or strange, wake him/her up gently. If you cannot rouse your child, or something seems very wrong in his/her appearance or breathing, call an ambulance and return to the hospital immediately.
• For the next eight hours after getting home: Supervise all playing and bathing.
• For the next 24 hours, do not let your child swim or use play equipment (bikes, monkey bars, etc.) that might cause an accident.

When to call the doctor

Please call the PT Barnum Pediatric Center at 203-384-3250 if you have any questions, or if your child

• Vomits more than twice
• Shows strange or unusual behavior

If your child is facing a test or procedure that may be uncomfortable or cause anxiety, ask your pediatrician or other specialist about Bridgeport Hospital's KidEase service. Your doctor can make arrangements for you to use the service by calling Bridgeport Hospital's PT Barnum Pediatric Center at 203-384-3250.