DOC PLEASE GIVE OPINION on Propofol sedation for my child MRI

My 22 month old son will have an MRI done in a few weeks. He has had a couple of "jerking spells" when he sleeps which wake him up and continue for about a minute after he is awake. They dont look like grand mal seizures and they may not even be seizures at all. But doc wants to do MRI to rule out anything serious. My husband and I are concerned about having him sedated. The drug Propofol will be given through IV. I have done some research and there seems to be conflicting studies and opinions on the safety of the drug in pediatric use, especially in young children. Please give opinions on the safety of the drug, or your own experience with use for your patients in your medical practices. The MRI will be done at a children's hospital. My husband and I are wondering if maybe the risks involved with the sedation are greater than the risk that my son's "spells" have posed to his health because he seems fine during waking hours and has no other neurolgical symtoms (symptoms) or health problems. Thanks for your help

[Jagdish Vishnoi, MD]

Hi,
Your son is most likely having myoclonic epilepsy.As you are planing for MRI brain so hopefully you done EEG and CT brain.Discussion with Peadiatric neorologist and Anaesthesiologist will be highly beneficial regarding your queries about propofol sedation.Side effects of propofol are hypotension,respiratory distress and hypersensitivity reactions.Other options include sedation with short acting benzodiazepines like medazolam infusion.
Regards,