Safety of intravenous sedation administered by the operating oral surgeon: the first 7 years of office practice.
OBJECTIVE
Outpatient intravenous sedation by properly trained personnel provides a safe, cost-effective means of anesthesia for numerous surgical procedures. The goal of this study was to provide a 7-year summary (December 1994 through November 2001) of anesthesia-related problems that occurred in the practice of a single Midwestern board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon.


METHODS
The files of intravenous sedation cases from December 1994 through November 2001 were organized retrospectively.


RESULTS
A total of 2,889 sedations were performed by the surgeon during the 7-year period. There were 1,743 (about 60.33%) patients in ASA Class I, 1,139 (about 39.43%) in ASA Class II, and 7 (about 0.24%) in ASA Class III. There were a total of 70 patients who had 77 adverse events. Less than 3% of the sedation patients experienced complications. There were no deaths and no patients required emergency transport to a hospital.


CONCLUSIONS
The administration of intravenous sedation by the operating surgeon for outpatient oral surgery procedures is safe and results in a low incidence of adverse events. In this series, a number of previously undiagnosed medical problems were discovered. The diagnosis and referral for management of these medical problems improved patient health.
Rodgers
Steven F
SF
Newburgh Oral Surgery, PC, 4855 Highway 261, Newburgh, IN 47630, USA.
D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D013515:Surgery, Oral; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology
D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D008874:Midazolam; D005283:Fentanyl