Hemodynamic, ventilator, and ECG changes in pediatric patients undergoing extraction

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Dental Anesthesiology
• Cardiovascular Physiology

Background:

• Dental procedures often induce significant pain, anxiety, and fear in children.
• Understanding the physiological responses to dental treatment is critical for effective patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess hemodynamic, ventilator, and electrocardiograph changes during tooth extraction in 12-15-year-old children.
• To correlate these physiological changes with reported levels of anxiety, fear, and pain.

Main Methods:

• Sixty children aged 12-15 underwent dental extraction.
• Anxiety, fear, and pain were measured using validated scales prior to the procedure.
• Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and ECG were monitored at four key stages: pre-injection, injection, extraction, and post-extraction.

Main Results:

• Hemodynamic and ventilator parameters (blood pressure, heart rate) showed significant increases during the injection phase and decreased during extraction, with lowest values post-procedure (except oxygen saturation).
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities were observed in 22 patients, significantly associated with local anesthetic injection (P=0.0001).

Conclusions:

• Children's anxiety, fear, and pain demonstrably affect hemodynamic, ventilator, and cardiovascular parameters during dental extractions.
• Emphasizing behavioral management strategies in pediatric dental settings is essential for mitigating these physiological responses and improving patient care.