Clinical effects of nitrous oxide conscious sedation in children.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the clinical effects of nitrous oxide conscious sedation on children.


METHODS
Fifty-nine healthy children (ages 4 to 13, mean age=7.7 yrs.) requiring dental restorative treatment with nitrous oxide sedation were studied. The behavior and clinical effects were assessed before and 5 minutes after 50% nitrous oxide sedation. In addition, the children were instructed to draw 4 selected figures from the Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test to evaluate psychomotor performance and report on their perceived feelings with nitrous oxide. The total sample was divided into various groups for analysis by age, gender, and prior nitrous oxide experience.


RESULTS
The most common effects of nitrous oxide sedation were open hands (90%), limp legs (81%), and facial smile (66%). Almost all of the children (95%) liked the nitrous oxide, and 86% reported feeling different. In the measure of psychomotor performance, 75% of the children had 2 or less errors initially and 5 or less errors with nitrous oxide.


CONCLUSIONS
There are observable signs and perceived symptoms of nitrous oxide conscious sedation in children. In addition, nitrous oxide at a concentration of 50% has a small but significant effect on the psychomotor ability of children.
Houpt
Milton I
MI
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)-New Jersey Dental School, Newark, NJ, USA. houpt@umdnj.edu
Limb
Robert
R
Livingston
Richard L
RL
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006225:Hand / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D012677:Sensation / Q000187:drug effects; D012737:Sex Factors; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects; D012904:Smiling
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D009609:Nitrous Oxide