RT Journal Article
T1 Assessment and treatment of the withdrawal syndrome in paediatric intensive care units
A1 Ávila Alzate, Jennihe Alejandra
A1 Gómez Salgado, Juan
A1 Romero Martín, Macarena
A1 Fernández García, Daniel
AB Background: Sedoanalgesia secondary iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome (IWS) in paediatric intensive units is frequent and itsassessment is complex. Therapies are heterogeneous, and there is currently no gold standard method for diagnosis. In addition, theassessment scales validated in children are scarce. This paper aims to identify and describe both the paediatric diagnostic andassessment tools for the IWS and the treatments for the IWS in critically ill paediatric patients.Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. This review included descriptive andobservational studies published since 2000 that analyzed paediatric scales for the evaluation of the iatrogenic withdrawal syndromeand its treatments. The eligibility criteria included neonates, newborns, infants, pre-schoolers, and adolescents, up to age 18, whowere admitted to the paediatric intensive care units with continuous infusion of hypnotics and/or opioid analgesics, and whopresented signs or symptoms of deprivation related to withdrawal and prolonged infusion of sedoanalgesia.Results: Three assessment scales were identified: Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1, Sophia Observation Withdrawal Symptoms,and Opioid and Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Score. Dexmedetomidine, methadone and clonidine were revealed as options for thetreatment and prevention of the iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome. Finally, the use of phenobarbital suppressed symptoms ofdeprivation that are resistant to other drugs.Conclusions: The reviewed scales facilitate the assessment of the iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome and have a high diagnosticquality. However, its clinical use is very rare. The treatments identified in this review prevent and effectively treat this syndrome. Theuse of validated iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome assessment scales in paediatrics clinical practice facilitates assessment, have a highdiagnostic quality, and should be encouraged, also ensuring nurses’ training in their usage.
PB Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
SN 0025-7974
YR 2020
FD 2020-01
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10272/17976
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10272/17976
LA eng
NO Ávila Alzate, J. A., Gómez Salgado, J., Romero Martín, M. ...  Fernández García, D. (2020). Assessment and treatment of the withdrawal syndrome in paediatric intensive care units. Medicine, 99(5), e18502. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000018502
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 1 jun 2026