Skip to main content
Skip to main content

AAP Gateway

Advanced Search »

User menu

  • Login
  • AAP Policy
  • Topic/Program Collections
  • Submit Manuscript
  • Alerts
  • Subscribe
  • aap.org

Menu

  • AAP Grand Rounds
  • AAP News
  • Hospital Pediatrics
  • NeoReviews
  • Pediatrics
  • Pediatrics in Review
  • Current AAP Policy
  • Journal CME
  • AAP Career Center
  • Pediatric Collections
  • AAP Journals Catalog

Sections

    • Login
    • AAP Policy
    • Topic/Program Collections
    • Submit Manuscript
    • Alerts
    • Subscribe
    • aap.org

    Get Involved! Pediatrics is accepting nominations for Editorial Board positions.

    Sign up for Insight Alerts highlighting editor-chosen studies with the greatest impact on clinical care.
    Video Abstracts -- brief videos summarizing key findings of new articles
    Watch the Features Video to learn more about Pediatrics.

    Advertising Disclaimer »

    Tools and Links

    Pediatrics
    September 1993, VOLUME 92 / ISSUE 3
    AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS

    Use of Chloral Hydrate For Sedation in Children

    • Article
    • Info & Metrics
    • Comments
    Loading
    Download PDF

    Abstract

    Publicity about the possible carcinogenicity of chloral hydrate along with the suggestion that alternative sedatives should be used in children has generated concern among physicians, dentists, and their patients.1,2 Replacement of chloral hydrate with other sedatives would represent a major change in practice because it is one of the drugs most widely employed to sedate young children undergoing dental and medical procedures and imaging studies. This statement will assist the practitioner in making an informed decision regarding the use of chloral hydrate by summarizing (1) information pertaining to the potential for carcinogenesis associated with use of chloral hydrate, (2) the risk/benefit considerations of available sedatives, and (3) risks associated with prolonged sedation with chloral hydrate.

    EVIDENCE FOR CARCINOGENESIS OF CHLORAL HYDRATE

    Some of the concern regarding potential carcinogenicity of chloral hydrate is based on the assumption that chloral hydrate is a reactive metabolite of trichloroethylene, an industrial solvent, and is responsible for the carcinogenicity of trichloroethylene.1,2 However, the validity of this assumption is open to question. Although chloral hydrate is a metabolite of trichloroethylene, there is evidence that the carcinogenicity of trichloroethylene is due to a reactive intermediate epoxide metabolite rather than chloral hydrate.3 As is the case for most chemical carcinogens, trichloroethylene is carcinogenic in some laboratory animal species but not in others.4 Multiple epidemiologic studies in humans have failed to document an increase in cancer incidence associated with trichloroethylene exposure,5-10 although the ability of these studies to detect small increases in risk of cancer is limited.

    There are no studies pertaining to chloral hydrate-associated carcinogenicity in humans.

    • Copyright © 1993 by the American Academy of Pediatrics
    Full Text (PDF)
    PreviousNext

     

    Advertising Disclaimer »

    PreviousNext
    Email

    Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on Pediatrics.

    NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

    Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
    Use of Chloral Hydrate For Sedation in Children
    (Your Name) has sent you a message from Pediatrics
    (Your Name) thought you would like to see the Pediatrics web site.

    Alerts
    Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
    Citation Tools
    Use of Chloral Hydrate For Sedation in Children
    Pediatrics Sep 1993, 92 (3) 471-473;

    Citation Manager Formats

    • BibTeX
    • Bookends
    • EasyBib
    • EndNote (tagged)
    • EndNote 8 (xml)
    • Medlars
    • Mendeley
    • Papers
    • RefWorks Tagged
    • Ref Manager
    • RIS
    • Zotero
    Share
    Use of Chloral Hydrate For Sedation in Children
    Pediatrics Sep 1993, 92 (3) 471-473;
    del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Technorati logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Connotea logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
    PDF
    Insight Alerts
    • Table of Contents
    • Current Policy
    • Early Release
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Editorial Board
    • Editorial Policies
    • Overview
    • Features Video
    • Open Access
    • Pediatric Collections
    • Video Abstracts
    • Author Guidelines
    • Reviewer Guidelines
    • Submit My Manuscript

    Back to top

                

    Copyright © 2019 by American Academy of Pediatrics

    International Access »

    Terms of Use
    The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) takes the issue of privacy very seriously. See our Privacy Statement for information about how AAP collects, uses, safeguards and discloses the information collected on our Website from visitors and by means of technology.
    FAQ

     

    AAP Pediatrics