title: Risk evaluation and patient assessment in sedation.
abstract: Risk assessment gives a good clinical guide to the understanding of our patients' medical problems. The dentist can cope with problems related to patients belonging to risks group 1 and 2, but not to groups 3 or 4. The results of studies on risks, morbidity, and mortality in anaesthesia teach us that the human factor and technical error provoke complications, morbidity and mortality, seemingly unnecessarily. Case history and a simple physical examination, primarily concentrated on respiration and circulation, are of greatest importance. Main risks during conscious sedation are regurgitation and aspiration of fluid and smaller objects, such as a broken dentist's drill or a cardiac complication. Most feared is the risk of a reinfarcation. The aim of sedation is to reduce anxiety and restlessness. Of greatest importance is thorough patient information and a good doctor-patient contact.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Linköping University, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Löfström
mesh_terms: D003729:Dental Care; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives