Effects of chloral hydrate on nitrous oxide sedation of children

This study was conducted to examine the effects of chloral hydrate on nitrous oxide sedation of young children for dental treatment. Nineteen children, ranging in age from 19 to 41 months (mean 30 months), participated in this double-blind study. The subjects were assigned randomly to receive either a placebo or chloral hydrate (50 mg/kg) for the first visit with the alternate regimen administered during the second appointment. In addition, all subjects received inhalation nitrous oxide/oxygen at a concentration of 50%, and were restrained in a Papoose board (Olympic Medical Group; Seattle, WA) with head restraint. Seventy-four per cent of sedations were classified as very good or excellent when chloral hydrate was administered with nitrous oxide compared with only 26% when the placebo was administered.