410 DENTAL ANAESTHETICS PART II: THE PATIENTS’ REACTIONS TO ANAESTHESIA AND SURGERY

Abstract

SUMMARY This pilot study reports observations made during 410 dental anaesthetics. The gas mixtures delivered, nosepiece pressures and indirect systolic blood pressure and brachial pulse were recorded. Nitrous oxide, oxygen and halothane, and nitrous oxide and oxygen were usually used but fifteen different anaesthetic techniques were recorded. The deliberate use of hypoxia was frequent. Jactitations were seen in 5 per cent of patients. Two patients fainted in the dental chair, one was not anaesthetized and the other fainted in the postoperative period following a lucid interval. Bradycardia occurred in a further eleven patients and with four of these there was an associated depression of the systolic blood pressure. In four patients there was a depression of pulse rate associated with surgical stimulation, and with four patients pulse irregularities were recorded. Some observations on postoperative nausea and vomiting are also discussed. The results are interpreted as supporting the contention that hypoxia is undesirable and as indicating the particular need for further study of the effects of surgical stimulation under very light anaesthesia of brief duration, and of the immediate postanaesthetic period.