A study of inhalational sedation with nitrous oxide/oxygen for oral surgery in Hong Kong Chinese.

Thirty healthy Chinese between 17-36 years undergoing extraction of bilaterally similarly impacted third molars in two visits were randomly given nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalational sedation to supplement local anaesthesia or unsupplemented local anaesthesia for operation on one side and the alternative for the other. The majority in the study had never heard of inhalational sedation being available to supplement local anaesthesia, and when given a chance to experience this method, the majority preferred it to local anaesthesia alone. Supplementation of local anaesthesia with inhalational sedation produced patients who were more relaxed. With both methods, the operating conditions were assessed to be good, with good patient co-operation. Inhalational sedation with nitrous oxide/oxygen had no significant effect on vital signs, intraoperative or post operative adverse effects and patients were street fit within ten minutes of ending sedation.