OXYGEN-SATURATION DURING GENERAL-ANESTHESIA IN THE DENTAL CHAIR - A COMPARISON OF THE EFFECT OF POSITION ON SATURATION

Oxygen saturation was measured in 135 children requiring general anaesthesia for multiple dental extractions. These were dental chair anaesthetics administered in a community dental clinic. Sessions were assigned to either sitting or supine, producing two groups for comparison. Saturation was monitored continuously for the duration of the procedure. There was no significant difference in the saturation changes of the two groups. Experience and familiarity with working in either position in the dental chair was found to be a key factor in avoiding problems for both the anaesthetist and the operator. © 1990 Nature Publishing Group. All rights reserved.