The influence of parents' voice on the consumption of propofol for pediatric procedural sedation-a randomized controlled trial.

Background: In pediatric patients, invasive procedures such as the insertion of a central venous catheter or gastroscopy require deep sedation. It is unknown whether listening to parental voice during deep sedation in children can reduce sedative doses.

Aim: The aim of this prospective study was to determine the effect of listening to a parent's voice during deep sedation on consumption of sedatives in children.

Methods: Fifty children aged 2-14 years undergoing central line placement or gastroscopy under deep sedation with propofol were randomly assigned to two groups: (A) listening or (B) not listening their parents' recorded voice reading a standardized text by the use of earphones. Depth of sedation was monitored by Comfort Score and by Bispectral Index.

Results: Mean sedative dose of propofol in both groups was equal (A 0.25 mg·kg ·min ; B 0.28 mg·kg ·min ; Δ -0.03 mg·kg ·min (CI 95% -0.08 to 0.01); P = 0.089). Furthermore, complication rate (P = 1.0) and recovery time (A 14.5 min; B 16.1 min; Δ = -1.6 min (CI 95% -6.98 to 3.81); P = 0.60) did not differ between the intervention and the control group.

Conclusion: Listening to parental voice during deep sedation does not result in a reduction of sedative dose in children undergoing short medical procedures.