Inhalation sedation (IS) with nitrous oxide (N2O) is classified as minimal sedation. In paediatric dentistry, IS works well for mildly anxious but potentially cooperative children, reducing the need for general anaesthesia for simple dental procedures. We review contemporary guidelines relating to ISN2O in Australasia, the UK, Europe and the US. As this is a multispecialty area, with differences in laws, regulations, guidance and governance from country to country, this review aims to illuminate global trends and assist with the designing of local regulations for the safe practice of ISN2O.
Could ‘safe practice’ be compromising safe practice? Should anaesthetists have to demonstrate that face mask ventilation is possible before giving a neuromuscular blocker?
