Safety and Efficacy Associated With a Family-Centered Procedural Sedation Protocol for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder or Developmental Delay

Routine health care, whether physical examinations, blood sampling, vaccination, or dental care, is challenging and often traumatic for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children with developmental delay (DD), often requiring physical restraint or being indefinitely postponed. Behavioral interventions are critical for effective treatment of these children; however, in many children who have had traumatic medical experiences, these interventions may not be successful.1 Pharmacologic treatment with oral sedatives may be insufficient to perform common minor procedures, while the intramuscular route, requiring physical restraint for administration, can deepen the fear and lack of trust these children have toward the health care system.2 We describe a consecutive case series using a family-centered integrated behavioral and sedation protocol for common medical procedures in these children.