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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates: Visitor Guidelines & More

Safety Measures at Riley Children’s Health

We are taking thoughtful steps to ensure our spaces remain safe for patients, parents and caregivers. View safety measures, mask policy and visiting guidelines.

Information on COVID-19

Learn more about COVID-19, information about previously scheduled appointments and what you can do to help protect your child and family. View COVID-19 information.


Free Virtual Coronavirus Screenings

IU Health has launched a virtual clinic to offer individuals in Indiana regardless of age free coronavirus (COVID-19) screenings. View screening details.

Actualizaciones del Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Información sobre el COVID-19

Obtenga más información acerca del COVID-19, incluyendo las preguntas más frecuentes y lo que puede hacer para ayudar a protegerse y proteger a su familia. Ver información del COVID-19.


Restricciones para visitantes

Las instalaciones de salud de IU Health han implementado restricciones a los visitantes para ayudar a minimizar la propagación del COVID-19, la gripe y otros virus respiratorios. Ver restricciones para visitantes.


Información sobre citas ambulatorias previamente programadas

Para asegurar la salud y la seguridad de todos nuestros pacientes y empleados durante la pandemia del coronavirus (COVID-19), estamos haciendo ajustes en algunas de nuestras citas ambulatorias. Ver actualizaciones de citas ambulatorias.


Exámenes de coronavirus virtuales gratuitos

IU Health ha lanzado una clínica virtual para ofrecer a las personas en Indiana, independientemente de la edad, evaluaciones virtuales para la detección del coronavirus (COVID-19). Ver detalles de la evaluación.

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Riley Children's Health

Procedural Sedation

Procedural Sedation
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Procedural sedation is the administration of medicines to reduce awareness, anxiety, pain and discomfort during medical care. It does not interfere with breathing or with airway protective reflexes such as coughing. Sedation can range from light to deep. In light sedation, patients are awake, talking and aware of what is going on. In deep sedation, patients are asleep but breathing on their own.

Your child may need to be sedated before undergoing a variety of tests and procedures, including:

  • Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
  • Bone marrow aspiration
  • Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement
  • Liver biopsy
  • Kidney biopsy
  • Imaging studies, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), ultrasound and interventional radiology procedures

What to Expect

What to Expect

Procedural sedation may be used while your child is undergoing a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure at Riley at IU Health. The goal is to keep the experience as stress-free and pain-free as possible.

A sedation team that is led by a pediatric intensivist and includes a sedation nurse develops an overall sedation plan for your child's procedure or treatment. The intensivist is a doctor who will administer medicine to keep your child comfortable throughout the procedure while monitoring vital signs to ensure his or her well-being. Patients must be referred to intensivists for sedation from another subspecialty. The team guides you and your child through the visit, and the same staff members are with your child throughout the experience.

A team member will discuss any potential side effects with you when the sedation is scheduled. You receive information and instructions at several points, including at the time the procedure is scheduled, at admission and before the administration of any medicine.

The team uses medicines and delivery methods that allow your child to have a more natural sleep state, so general anesthesia and a breathing device are typically not needed. In most cases, medicines are administered through an intravenous (IV) line, but they can also be given orally (by mouth) or intranasally (through the nose).

Once your child is awake and back to a baseline (normal) state, he or she typically is ready for discharge with detailed instructions for the caregiver.

Key Points to Remember

Key Points to Remember

  • Procedural sedation is the administration of medicines to reduce awareness, anxiety, pain and discomfort during medical care to keep your child's experience as stress-free and pain-free as possible.
  • The medicines and delivery methods used by the sedation team create a more natural sleep state, so general anesthesia and a breathing device are typically not required.
  • The sedation team stays with your child throughout the procedure to monitor vital signs and ensure his or her well-being.
  • Once your child is awake and back to a baseline (normal) state, he or she typically is ready for discharge with detailed instructions for the caregiver.

Locations

Locations

Locations

In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.

Related Conditions & Departments

Related Conditions & Departments

Departments

  • Critical Care
  • Radiology & Imaging
Riley Children's Health Indiana University School of Medicine
Designated as Best Children's Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, Ranked in 10 Specialties in 2020-21

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Find adult services at iuhealth.org

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Designated as Best Children's Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, Ranked in 10 Specialties in 2020-21

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Indiana University Health
Find adult services at iuhealth.org


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