[Intravenous sedation in implantology]

Local or block anesthesia can be used satisfactorily in many implant procedures. However, when advanced implant techniques or pre-prosthetic reconstruction surgery of the maxillofacial bones are required, local or regional anesthesia is insufficient. The "day-hospital" concept is a rational approach which meets the requirements for anesthesia and deep sedation with criteria for patient safety and comfort while guaranteeing optimal operating conditions. Intravenous sedation, both "conscious" and "deep" sedation, is a very well adapted form of anesthesia for implant recipients. Local or block anesthesia is enhanced or reinforced prior to surgery by the intravenous administration of a sedative and anxiolytic agent (single-drug concept), such as a benzodiazepine, associated or not with a morphinomimetic agent and an antihistaminic substance (multiple-drug concept). The main goal is to maintain spontaneous respiration while obtaining postoperative amnesia of the entire procedure. Mandatory use of a pulse oximeter has greatly contributed to improved safety of intravenous sedation, essentially indicated for operations not lasting more than 2 and a half hours in patients in good general health (scoring 1 or 2 in the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) classification) and with a low risk of postoperative complications. This concept requires an adapted technical facility. The operating theatre should have all the equipment necessary for cardiovascular, neurological and respiratory emergency care. The postoperative recovery room should also be equipped with cardiovascular monitoring devices and be able to accommodate an intensive care unit. Under these strict rules, short duration surgical procedures (< 150') can be performed : 1) with the best conditions of medical safety, 2) with improved operating conditions for the implant surgeon (the patient responds immediately to vocal orders when necessary) while asepsis is maintained as easily as with general anesthesia, 3) with better conditions for postoperative care and patient comfort (the anesthetist is continuously present). 4) better psychological conditions for the patient who will be discharged the same day, 5) with total amnesia of the entire surgical procedure, 6) elimination of a usually disproportionately long hospitalization. Day hospitalization also helps contain health care costs by cutting out the need for overnight care and accommodation. We underline the safety of current intravenous sedation techniques and present two series of data related to the use of this technique by an anesthetist and an operating surgeon in a day hospital from 1986 to 1995.