Key Points
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Emphasises the importance of multi-centre audits for clinical governance.
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Demonstrates that conscious sedation for dental treatment is safe and predictable outside hospital settings.
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Highlights the variability of defining an 'adverse event' related to conscious sedation in the literature.
Abstract
Introduction There are no previously published reports of audits in conscious sedation from a group comprising the general dental services (GDS), community dental services (CDS) and hospital dental services (HDS).
Aim The main aim of this audit was to assess current practice within the group in relation to the safety and predictability of dental treatment undertaken with the aid of conscious sedation.
Methods A total of nine centres collected data prospectively on 1,037 sedation episodes over the course of one year. Audit standards were locally agreed based on current evidence and local experience. They were set at a completion rate of 90% and an adverse incident rate of 2% or less.
Results Based on the data collected, a completion rate of 92% and a minor adverse incident rate of 2.6% were recorded.
Conclusions The participating centres met the standards set locally for this audit. Current practice in the participating centres was found to be safe and predictable. The audit tool is being refined to improve the quality of data collection. Further research and service evaluation is recommended.
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Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the sedation practitioners, MSc students and sedation nurses for their invaluable contributions and data. This audit would not have been possible without their support. In particular, we would like to appreciate the efforts of David Davies, Eimear Rowan, Anthony Davies, Aisha Tahir, Sianed King, Sheila Oliver, Michael Allen, Vicki Jones and Helen Garside.
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Muthukrishnan, A., McGregor, J. & Thompson, S. Safety and predictability of conscious sedation in dentistry – a multi-centre regional audit: South and West Wales experience. Br Dent J 215, E13 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2013.992
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2013.992
