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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Published on: December 6, 2016
Nitrous oxide sedation and bispectral index
Berrin Işik1, Tamer Tüzüner, Melih Tezkirecioglu
1Anesthesiology and Reanimation Specialist, Gazi University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ankara, TURKEY.
Insights
Bispectral analysis (BIS) monitoring did not show changes in anxious children receiving nitrous oxide (N2O) sedation for primary tooth extractions. BIS is not suitable for assessing N2O/O2 sedation depth in pediatric dental procedures.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Anesthesiology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Anxious children undergoing dental procedures often require sedation.
- Nitrous oxide (N2O)/oxygen (O2) is a common sedative agent.
- Assessing sedation depth is crucial for patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in Bispectral Analysis (BIS) during nitrous oxide (N2O) sedation.
- To evaluate the suitability of BIS monitoring for assessing sedation depth in children.
- Focus on anxious children undergoing primary tooth extraction.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 40 ASA physical status I children (7-12 years old).
- Recorded BIS levels, Ramsay Sedation Scores (RSS), SpO2, and HR at 1-minute intervals.
- Administered 40-60% N2O in O2 via nasal hood, paired with Observer's Assessment of Alertness and Sedation (OAA/S) scores.
Main Results:
- Nitrous oxide inhalation did not alter BIS levels.
- Sedation was achieved, as indicated by OAA/S scores.
- No correlation found between BIS values and observed sedation levels.
Conclusions:
- Bispectral analysis (BIS) values remain unchanged during N2O/O2 sedation in children.
- The BIS monitor is not an appropriate tool for evaluating the depth of N2O/O2 sedation.
- This finding is relevant for pediatric dental extractions requiring sedation.
Objectives:
To determine whether bispectral analysis (BIS) changes during nitrous oxide (N(2)O) sedation in anxious children undergoing extraction of primary teeth.
Methods:
In this prospective study 45, ASA physical status I children, aged between 7 to 12 years and scheduled for primary teeth extraction under N(2)O/O(2) sedation are included. At baseline (T0) and during the sedation procedure (T1-6); BIS levels, Ramsay Sedation Scores (RSS), oxygen saturation (Sp0(2)), and heart rate (HR) were recorded at one-minute intervals. Forty percent N(2)O in O(2) was given by a nasal hood, and N(2)O concentration was enhanced to 60% in a two-minute period. Paired measurements of BIS levels with Observer's Assessment of Alertness and Sedation (OAA/S) scores were obtained during sedation procedure.
Results:
Since 5 patients refused application of the nasal hood, a total 40 of the original 45 subjects completed the study. Mean age and weight of the children were 9.5 +/- 1.4 years and 23.7 +/- 9.7 kg, respectively. Nitrous oxide inhalation produced no changes in BIS levels despite a sedation level in OAA/S scores were observed at 40-60% N(2)O concentrations.
Conclusions:
BIS values do not change during N(2)O/O(2) sedation and the BIS monitor is not appropriate to evaluate the depth of sedation provided by N(2)O/O(2) during primary teeth extraction in children.
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