410 DENTAL ANAESTHETICS PART I: INTRODUCTION, METHODS, MATERIAL AND ANAESTHETIC TECHNIQUES

Abstract

Four hundred and ten dental anaesthetics administered at the Royal Dental Hospital, during August 1961 were studied by recording: (1) the gas mixtures delivered; (2) the pressures developed within the nosepiece; (3) the indirect systolic blood pressure; (4) the brachial pulse. Recording was supplemented by direct observation when possible. Most of the patients studied were adults, the youngest child being 11 years. Nitrous oxide, oxygen and halothane, and nitrous oxide and oxygen were the anaesthetics usually employed, but fifteen different anaesthetic techniques were recorded. The deliberate use of hypoxia, of varied degree, was frequent. The reactions of patients to anaesthesia and surgery will be reported in Part II.