275 - Assessment of CNH Pediatric Dentistry Department's Moderate Sedation Regimen

Purpose: The aim of this quality improvement study was to assess Children’s National Hospital (CNH) pediatric dentistry department’s moderate sedation post-operative assessment mechanism by examining the department’s completed “Post-Sedation Outcome Phone Call Data” forms from the last three years.

Methods: A chart review of moderate sedation visits from June 12, 2020, to May 11, 2023, was conducted. Patient data, including age, medications, treatment details, adverse reactions, post-op pain medication use, post-operative behavior, and parental concerns and satisfaction, was extracted from individual charts and compiled in a password-protected Excel spreadsheet. Descriptive statistics were completed.

Results: Two-hundred sixty-seven moderate sedations were completed at CNH over a three-year period. The primary medication regimen used for sedations was meperidine/hydroxyzine, accounting for 225 cases (84%). Only 42 of 267 sedations (16%) utilized a different medication regimen. There were 208 completed “Post-Sedation Outcome Phone Call Data” forms. Only about 9% (19/208) reported adverse reactions including vomiting, fever, pain, anxiety, breathing difficulty, and issues at surgical sites like bleeding, swelling, and oozing; however, these were not common occurrences. Parents were overwhelmingly satisfied with less than 2% (4/208) reporting dissatisfaction with the sedation experience for their child.

Conclusions: Parents were satisfied with sedation outcomes and minimal adverse reactions were reported. This study highlights the potential benefit of a second post-operative phone call. CNMC dental clinic should consider implementing a second post-operative phone call to their post-operative assessment mechanism.

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