Safety of intravenous sedation administered by the operating oral surgeon: the second 7 years of office practice.

PURPOSE: This follow-up study provides an additional 7 years of data (December 2001 through November 2008) pertaining to complications that occurred in patients who received intravenous sedation in the practice of a single board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Together with the previously published 7 years of data (December 1994 through November 2001), this study summarizes the frequency of various complications encountered in patients sedated intravenously by the surgeon over a 14-year period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The files of intravenous sedation cases from the second 7-year period were reviewed for complications. These data were then compared, contrasted, and combined with the previously published sedation cases from the first 7 years.

RESULTS: A total of 3,320 sedations were performed by the surgeon during this second 7-year period, with only 1.57% of patients having complications (52 patients having 60 adverse events). These results showed a slight decline in the frequency of complications. Over the entire 14-year period of study, a total of 6,209 sedations were performed by the surgeon, with 1.96% of patients having complications (122 patients having 137 adverse events). There were no deaths, and no patients required emergency transport to a hospital.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this follow-up study confirm the previous findings. The administration of intravenous sedation by the operating surgeon for outpatient oral surgery is safe, with a low frequency of complications. Numerous patients were also made aware of previously undiagnosed medical problems, improving overall patient health.