Deep sedation using intranasal dexmedetomidine followed by intravenous propofol for pediatric dental treatment

Abstract Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intranasal dexmedetomidine combined with propofol for pediatric dental sedation, and identify risk factors associated with major adverse events during deep sedation. Methods From June 2016 to August 2024, children who were unable to cooperate...

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Main Authors: Yun Liu, Binghua Li, Xiaoran Wu, Bin Xia, Xudong Yang, Tong Cheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Oral Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06381-9
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author Yun Liu
Binghua Li
Xiaoran Wu
Bin Xia
Xudong Yang
Tong Cheng
author_facet Yun Liu
Binghua Li
Xiaoran Wu
Bin Xia
Xudong Yang
Tong Cheng
author_sort Yun Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intranasal dexmedetomidine combined with propofol for pediatric dental sedation, and identify risk factors associated with major adverse events during deep sedation. Methods From June 2016 to August 2024, children who were unable to cooperate with the short-term oral treatment under non-pharmacological behavior or conscious sedation were selected for inclusion in the study. Intranasal dexmedetomidine 2 µg/kg was administered to facilitate preoperative sedation. Furthermore, a topical anesthetic, lidocaine gel, was applied to the venipuncture site. Once adequate sedation was achieved, venipuncture was performed. If preoperative sedation failed, sevoflurane inhalation was used to facilitate venipuncture. During the oral treatment, continuous target-controlled infusion (TCI) of propofol was administered to maintain a Bispectral index (BIS) of 50–70, ensuring deep sedation. Primary outcomes: Major adverse events (hypoxia, tachycardia, and bradycardia). Secondary outcomes: Less severe events (choking cough, gross body movement, and postoperative agitation) and risk factor exploration (interrelationships between tonsillar hypertrophy, surgery duration, and adverse events). Results A total of 513 children (359 boys, 69.98%; 154 girls, 30.02%) were enrolled in the study. Oral treatment was successfully completed in 100% of children. Surgery duration significantly influenced the incidence of major adverse events (p < 0.05), with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve identifying 79 min as the optimal cutoff (AUC = 0.653, 95% CI: 0.573–0.733). Tonsillar hypertrophy was associated with a 4.6-fold increased risk of adverse events (OR = 4.61, 95% CI: 1.2–17.8; P = 0.017), driven by higher rates of hypoxemia (33.3% vs. 3.3%, P < 0.001) and choking cough (9.5% vs. 0%, P < 0.001). Conclusions This study establishes intranasal dexmedetomidine premedication followed by target-controlled propofol infusion sedation as a safe, effective alternative to general anesthesia for short-duration pediatric dental procedures (< 2 h).
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spelling doaj-art-60a73b0f99984d399099f9d4e4b59f5f2025-08-20T04:01:40ZengBMCBMC Oral Health1472-68312025-07-012511910.1186/s12903-025-06381-9Deep sedation using intranasal dexmedetomidine followed by intravenous propofol for pediatric dental treatmentYun Liu0Binghua Li1Xiaoran Wu2Bin Xia3Xudong Yang4Tong Cheng5Department of Anesthesiology, National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Peking University School of StomatologyDepartment of Anesthesiology, National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Peking University School of StomatologyDepartment of Pediatric Dentistry, National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Peking University School of StomatologyDepartment of Pediatric Dentistry, National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Peking University School of StomatologyDepartment of Anesthesiology, National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Peking University School of StomatologyDepartment of Anesthesiology, National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Peking University School of StomatologyAbstract Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intranasal dexmedetomidine combined with propofol for pediatric dental sedation, and identify risk factors associated with major adverse events during deep sedation. Methods From June 2016 to August 2024, children who were unable to cooperate with the short-term oral treatment under non-pharmacological behavior or conscious sedation were selected for inclusion in the study. Intranasal dexmedetomidine 2 µg/kg was administered to facilitate preoperative sedation. Furthermore, a topical anesthetic, lidocaine gel, was applied to the venipuncture site. Once adequate sedation was achieved, venipuncture was performed. If preoperative sedation failed, sevoflurane inhalation was used to facilitate venipuncture. During the oral treatment, continuous target-controlled infusion (TCI) of propofol was administered to maintain a Bispectral index (BIS) of 50–70, ensuring deep sedation. Primary outcomes: Major adverse events (hypoxia, tachycardia, and bradycardia). Secondary outcomes: Less severe events (choking cough, gross body movement, and postoperative agitation) and risk factor exploration (interrelationships between tonsillar hypertrophy, surgery duration, and adverse events). Results A total of 513 children (359 boys, 69.98%; 154 girls, 30.02%) were enrolled in the study. Oral treatment was successfully completed in 100% of children. Surgery duration significantly influenced the incidence of major adverse events (p < 0.05), with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve identifying 79 min as the optimal cutoff (AUC = 0.653, 95% CI: 0.573–0.733). Tonsillar hypertrophy was associated with a 4.6-fold increased risk of adverse events (OR = 4.61, 95% CI: 1.2–17.8; P = 0.017), driven by higher rates of hypoxemia (33.3% vs. 3.3%, P < 0.001) and choking cough (9.5% vs. 0%, P < 0.001). Conclusions This study establishes intranasal dexmedetomidine premedication followed by target-controlled propofol infusion sedation as a safe, effective alternative to general anesthesia for short-duration pediatric dental procedures (< 2 h).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06381-9Deep sedationPediatric dental treatmentDexmedetomidinePropofol
spellingShingle Yun Liu
Binghua Li
Xiaoran Wu
Bin Xia
Xudong Yang
Tong Cheng
Deep sedation using intranasal dexmedetomidine followed by intravenous propofol for pediatric dental treatment
BMC Oral Health
Deep sedation
Pediatric dental treatment
Dexmedetomidine
Propofol
title Deep sedation using intranasal dexmedetomidine followed by intravenous propofol for pediatric dental treatment
title_full Deep sedation using intranasal dexmedetomidine followed by intravenous propofol for pediatric dental treatment
title_fullStr Deep sedation using intranasal dexmedetomidine followed by intravenous propofol for pediatric dental treatment
title_full_unstemmed Deep sedation using intranasal dexmedetomidine followed by intravenous propofol for pediatric dental treatment
title_short Deep sedation using intranasal dexmedetomidine followed by intravenous propofol for pediatric dental treatment
title_sort deep sedation using intranasal dexmedetomidine followed by intravenous propofol for pediatric dental treatment
topic Deep sedation
Pediatric dental treatment
Dexmedetomidine
Propofol
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06381-9
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