Post-Discharge Events Occurring after Dental Treatment under Deep Sedation in Pediatric Patients

Deep sedation is often required in dentistry for treating children with uncooperative behavior. We assessed immediate post-sedation events during the first 24 hours after dental treatment under deep sedation in children, and examined correlations to a number of variables.

Information was collected from medical files for a convenience sample of children between the ages of 1 and 16, who were treated under deep sedation at one clinic (propofol alone or combined with a sedative agent). Parents were interviewed by telephone regarding the first 24 hours following treatment.

Among 32 children under age 6 years, 26 (81.3%) had at least one post sedation complication, compared to 19/22 (86.4%) aged 6 and older, p>0.05. According to parent report, 13 (59.1%) of the older children had pain, compared to 6 (18.8%) of the younger ones, p=0.002. For no patient in the younger group compared to 18.2% in the older group was dizziness reported as a complication, p=0.023. Among those who received a sedative agent, 93.3% had one or more complications; 26.7% had nausea or vomiting. The respective rates were 79.5% and 5.1% among those treated only with propofol.

Though safe, deep sedation poses complications and adverse events.