Propofol intravenous conscious sedation for anxious children in a specialist paediatric dentistry unit

Abstract

Objectives. To report on both the use and dosage of propofol, as a new intravenous (IV) conscious sedative agent, for anxious children referred to a specialist paediatric dentistry service. Setting. Paediatric Dentistry Unit, Glasgow Dental Hospital and School. Sample. Thirty-four children, 25 females and 9 males, mean age 12 years 10 months, with a mean weight of 54·6 kg (range 30–110 kg). Methods. Report from 34 patients receiving intravenous sedation for the first time in respect of weight dose and amount of treatment completed. Results. Thirty-two children successfully accepted operative dental care on their first visit, they received a mean total dose of 146·25 mg of propofol (range 10 mg to 356 mg); in relation to body weight, the mean was 2·5 mg/kg (range 0·2–5·4 mg/kg). The treatment that they received included fissure sealants, amalgam and adhesive restorations, root canal therapy and single and multiple extractions. Their sedation and recovery were uneventful. Conclusions. Sub-anaesthetic doses of propofol used for IV conscious sedation infusion facilitated operative dental treatment in anxious children