A neonate on the intensive care unit requires semi-urgent intubation. As the procedure is being carried out, the medical student notices that the neonate is struggling, prolonging the procedure, and appears to be in distress. The medical student asks why no medication was given before the neonate was intubated as this is the procedure in adults and children.

Structured clinical question

In neonates undergoing semi-urgent intubation [patients] should premedication [intervention] be used to facilitate easier intubation with less physiological stress [outcome]?

Search strategy and outcome

Medline: 1966 to present.

Embase: 1980 to 2005 week 27.

Cinahl: 1982 to June week 4 2005.

Using the ovid interface.

{exp Infant, newborn or neonat$.mp.} AND {exp premedication or premed$.mp. or exp analgesia or analges$.mp. or exp hypnotics and sedatives or sedat$.mp. or exp anesthesia or anaesth$.mp. or exp. Muscle relaxants, central or muscle relax$ or exp fentanyl or fentanyl.mp. or exp morphine or morphine.mp. or exp thiopental or thiopental.mp. or exp atropine or atropine.mp. or exp succinylcholine or succinylcholine.mp. or exp pancuronium …