Oxygen saturation and pulse rate change in children during sedation with oral midazolam and nitrous oxide

Objective: We aimed to examine if changes in oxygen saturation and pulse rate of pediatric patients during conscious sedation with midazolam and nitrous oxide are associated with child's behavior, midazolam dose, the type and duration of the treatment and demographic parameters. Study Design: This study was a retrospective chart review of consecutive pediatric patients, aged 2.5-12.5 years, who had undergone conscious sedation for dental treatment with oral midazolam (with or without nitrous oxide) between January 2011 and September 2015 at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry of Tel Aviv University. Oral midazolam was administered according to the patients'weight, either at 0.4 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg or at a maximum dose of 10 mg. In all cases pulse rate and oxygen saturation were monitored every 15 minutes during treatment, Results: 147 sedation sessions (82 of females and 65 of males) were included in the study. Sedation was successful in 80% of cases. Children with poor behavior scores had statistically significant different mean saturation levels, albeit within normal range, during the treatment (p<0.012) as well as a clinically significant higher mean pulse rate (p=0.0001), compared to children with good or excellent behavior scores. Treatment duration, the type of dental procedure or the patients' weight were not correlated with the change in oxygen saturation or pulse rate during the treatment. Conclusions: Poor behavior of pediatric patients does not affect oxygen saturation, but it increases the pulse rate of children under sedation with midazolam and nitrous oxide.