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For Immediate Release: August 7, 2006

Contact: Linda Leinberger (217) 544-6464, ext. 44304 linda.leinberger@st-johns.org

Pediatric Sedation Team eases fears

SPRINGFIELD - A Pediatric Sedation Team recently formed at St. John's Children's Hospital to reduce the pain and stress associated with certain medical tests and procedures. This team of specially trained pediatric physicians, nurses and child life specialists takes a proactive approach to reducing pain and anxiety to make a child's hospital experience as comfortable as possible.

The Team uses a light anesthesia that works quickly and has few side effects to help children relax while undergoing procedures in the Pediatric ICU or tests in Radiology.

"It's called twilight sleep," Pediatrics Nurse Manager Buffy Lael, RN, explains. "It is commonly used for bone marrow aspirations, lumbar punctures and extensive dressing changes. " Lael says the sedation team also works two days a week in St. John's Radiology Department to help keep young children still during imaging procedures such as MRIs and CT scans. "Each child is evaluated on a case-by-case basis," Lael emphasizes.

Gurpreet Mander , MD , an assistant professor of pediatrics at SIU School of Medicine and Medical Director of St. John's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, oversees the Team. "We combine the light anesthesia with relaxation and distraction techniques to minimize pain and anxiety," he says. "The child's vital signs are monitored throughout the procedure by a physician and a specially trained registered nurse."

Radiology child life specialist Ann Early believes the Pediatric Sedation Team takes St. John's Children's Hospital to the next level of providing family-centered care. Child life specialists help prepare children and their families for hospitalization, surgery and other procedures through education and distraction tools.

Early adds, "The Sedation Team provides an additional way we can enhance the comfort of our pediatric patients while meeting their medical needs."