Palliative Sedation in Pediatric Patients

Palliative sedation is the procedure by which the level of awareness of patients is lowered through different drugs in order to avoid suffering caused by refractory symptoms, usually terminal illnesses. In Spain in the year 2021 died more than 14 35 children from 0 to 14 years, whose diseases produce great suffering in the environment of the child. Therefore, we decided to analyze the current scientific evidence on medication used and ethical aspects in palliative sedation in children of this age. We consulted different databases of Health Sciences (CINAHL, PUBMED, Cuiden Plus, LILACS, Scopus) using palliative sedation and children as main terms. Of the 587 results obtained, 14 were included in the review. The drugs most commonly used to induce sedation were midazolam and propofol, but at lower doses than in adults. With regard to ethics, we emphasize in the first place the right of autonomy for the decision of a treatment of patients of this age or of the parents in case of disability. And the confusion between sedation and euthanasia by patients or environment. In conclusion, we note that there is a lack of research that reflects the current situation of palliative sedation in pediatric patients. Intervention research is needed to improve the quality of care provided to pediatric patients with irreversible or terminal illness.