A clinical assessment of the use of etomidate in children.

Etomidate 0.2 mg/kg i.v. was used to induce sleep in 198 children. It produced sleep rapidly and safely, with negligible effect on the cardiovascular system and little respiratory depression. Clinical acceptability was reduced by a 27% incidence of pain after injection, a 10% incidence of myoclonia and inadequate dosage in 19%. Etomidate has little analgesic activity and these problems can be reduced by the use of an analgesic as premedication or with induction of anaesthesia, by increasing the induction dose of etomidate to 0.3-0.4 mg/kg, or by changing the formulation of the solution.