title: Effectiveness and acceptability of intravenous sedation in child and adolescent dental patients: report of a case series at King's College Hospital, London.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Conscious sedation for young patients continues to be challenging. Few studies have shown positive results using intravenous midazolam when sedating young patients. This case series reports an investigation of conscious sedation using intravenous midazolam for young patients receiving dental treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine acceptance, safety and efficacy of intravenous midazolam for conscious sedation in children and adolescent patients undergoing dental treatment.Patients and methods Patients from seven to 16 years of age, ASA I, II and III, opted to have extractions, minor oral surgery and/or conservative treatment with IV midazolam and local anaesthesia. A pulse oximeter was used to monitor vital signs and the Houpt scale to assess overall behaviour.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 552 patients, 234 boys and 318 girls with mean ages of 13.3 years and 13.5 years respectively, were included. Three hundred and sixty-five patients (66%) claimed to be anxious or very anxious before treatment. The average dose given was 5.7 mg and dosage ranged from 2 to 10 mg. Four hundred and fifty-seven patients (83%) scored 'very good' and 'excellent' for overall behaviour. Side-effects included crying, drowsiness and amnesia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravenous midazolam is accepted by patients and is a safe and effective method of sedation for use in children and adolescents, producing some level of tearfulness.
authors.affiliation: Associate Specialist in Paediatric Dental Sedation and Honorary Clinical Teacher, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS. liege.matharu@kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lourenço-Matharu
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods*; D003448:Crying / Q000502:physiology; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013511:Minor Surgical Procedures; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012449:Safety; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008874:Midazolam; D010100:Oxygen