Analgesic Efficacy of Intranasal Ketamine Versus Intranasal Fentanyl for Moderate to Severe Pain in Children: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare analgesic efficacy of intranasal (IN) ketamine to IN fentanyl for moderate to severe pain in children in a pediatric emergency department. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, double-blinded, noninferiority study evaluating children aged 3 to 17 years in a pediatric emergency department with acute moderate to severe pain was conducted. Patients received either 1 mg/kg of IN ketamine or 1.5 µg/kg of IN fentanyl and were evaluated after 10, 20, 30, and 60 minutes. The primary outcome was the degree of pain reduction after 20 minutes. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were enrolled (11 in each group). Underlying pain conditions represented were musculoskeletal injury (73%) and abdominal pain (27%). At 20 minutes after analgesia, there was no significant difference in pain scores between the fentanyl (median, 2; range, 0-8) and ketamine groups (median, 4; range, 0-7; P = 0.20). The ketamine group showed a significantly greater rate of adverse effects, 73% versus 9% (P = 0.002), and throughout the course of the study period, 7 patients in the ketamine group (64%) group showed some degree of sedation versus no one in the fentanyl group (P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: There was insufficient power to support the analgesic noninferiority of IN ketamine at a dose of 1 mg/kg compared with IN fentanyl at a dose of 1.5 µg/kg in children experiencing painful conditions at 20 minutes after administration. Intranasal ketamine was found to be inferior to IN fentanyl in relieving pain at 10 minutes and was found to have significantly greater rates of sedation and dizziness.

Utility of Postreduction Radiographs After Fluoroscopy-Guided Reduction and Casting of Uncomplicated Pediatric Forearm Fractures.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine efficacy of performing postreduction radiographs in managing uncomplicated pediatric forearm fractures after reduction and casting under fluoroscopic guidance. DESIGN: This is retrospective analysis of consecutive cases. SETTING: The study was conducted in a large urban hospital pediatric emergency department (ED). PARTICIPANTS: Pediatric patients presenting to the ED with a forearm fracture between the ages of 0 to 18 years. All received orthopedic manual reduction with fluoroscopic guidance and casting, then followed by performance of a dedicated 2-view radiographic series of postreduction forearm to document proper alignment and cast placement. MAIN OUTCOME(S) AND MEASURE(S): Of 236 consecutive cases studied, there were only 5 cases (2%) in which the managing orthopedist determined that a further reduction attempt was warranted based on the postreduction radiograph results. All were mid-shaft fractures of both radius and ulna, which were angulated and/or displaced. The remaining 231 patients with an uncomplicated forearm fracture received no further ED clinical orthopedic intervention after performing postreduction radiographs. The mean ED time to ultimate discharge was prolonged an average of 89 minutes per patient after reduction and casting while awaiting performance/orthopedic review of postreduction radiographs. A calculation of postreduction radiograph cost amounted to a total of nearly US $50,000. CONCLUSIONS: Performance of postreduction radiographs in children with uncomplicated pediatric forearm fractures that are reduced and casted under fluoroscopy has little clinical utility and contributes to increased radiation exposure, patient health care cost, and time spent in the ED. Patients with mid-shaft forearm fractures involving both radius and ulna (especially if angulated or displaced) are at risk for unacceptable reduction after casting and may be the target group in which performing post reduction radiographs has potential benefit.