The aim of this study is to analyze the current approaches in sedation and analgesia practices among pediatric intensive care units' (PICUs) patients.

Methods: This is a descriptive prospective study reviewing 80 pediatric patients admitted to PICUs of Cairo university hospitals over 6 months, describing their sedo-analgesia practice, indication, duration, dose, effect and side effects.

Results: Eighty pediatric patients were enrolled, with a median age of 5.5 months, 51% of them were females (n= 41), and their weight ranged from 2.4 kg to 80 kg with a median of 6 kg. Pneumonia (53.8%) was the most common indication for admission with 49 patients needed mechanical ventilation showing the highest percentage (60%) among the indications of the sedation. Fentanyl used in 43.8%, 36% of patients needed multimodal medications, good sedation achieved in (67.5%), reduction of pain ranged from 44.44% to 100%. The median duration of PICU stay was 9.5 days. Vomiting presented in 15 % representing the most common side effect of sedo-analgesic use. Vital signs were found to be statistically significant indicator in assessing the efficacy of sedation and analgesia.

Conclusion: The practice of adequate sedation and analgesia in PICUs is a fundamental tool; it improves our patients' vital signs, reduces pain, facilitates synchronization with mechanical ventilation and decreases the length of stay in post-operative patients. Enhancing the proper use of sedation and analgesia in PICUs for better patient's care, also, the importance of daily sedation interruption practice and its impact on patient's outcome should be emphasized in further studies.