Intravenous conscious sedation in patients under 16 years of age. Fact or fiction?

Robb, N.D., Hosey, M.T. and Leitch, J.A. (2003) Intravenous conscious sedation in patients under 16 years of age. Fact or fiction? British Dental Journal, 194(9), pp. 469-471. (doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4810172)

Abstract

Recently published guidelines on the use of conscious sedation in dentistry have published varying recommendations on the lower age limit for the use of intravenous conscious sedation. There are a large number of dentists currently providing dental treatment for paediatric patients under intravenous conscious sedation. The 18 cases reported here (age range 11-15 years), were successfully managed with intravenous conscious sedation. The experience in this paper is not sufficient evidence to recommend the wholesale use of intravenous conscious sedation in patients who are under 16 years. The fact that a range of operators can use these techniques on paediatric patients would suggest that further study should be carried out in this population. The guidance should be modified to say there is insufficient evidence to support the use of intravenous conscious sedation in children, rather than arbitrarily selecting a cut off point at age 16 years.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hosey, Dr Marie and Robb, Dr Nigel
• Authors: Robb, N.D., Hosey, M.T., and Leitch, J.A.
• Subjects: R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics; R Medicine > RK Dentistry; R Medicine > RD Surgery
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Dental School
• Journal Name: British Dental Journal
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group for the British Dental Association
• ISSN: 0007-0610
• Copyright Holders: © Copyright British Dental Journal
• First Published: First published in the British Dental Journal 194(9):469 - 471
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher