Comparison of practitioners' preference for oral sedative agents.

Sublingual administration on a mannequin.

While the teeth were brushed, the tip of the toothbrush was set sublingually, and a sedative was injected.

Flowchart of enrollment, allocation, and data analysis. ¹ Change to another sedative because of not following preoperative fasting period; ² intravenous (IV) access failure (twice; n = 1); ³ IV access failure (twice; n = 1) and trouble with heart rate variability (HRV) measurement equipment (n = 2).

Regression and correlation analysis between the mean infusion rate of propofol and frequency (total number of cases, only propofol, propofol, and other sedative drugs). A significant positive correlation was observed between the frequency of intravenous sedation and the dosage of propofol. A tendency for a slower increase in propofol dosage was seen when combined with other drugs such as midazolam ± butorphanol, as the slope of the regression line is decreased.

Dose-response curve for barbiturates.

Dose-response curve for benzodiazepines.

Radial graph of mean scores in all cases of 3 groups.

Plotted markers indicate mean score values of all cases in each group. High scores are revealed for clenching in groups A2 and R, and for head or extremity movements in group R. One case in the A1 group was judged ineffective as the patient could not be awaked by calling her name or shaking her shoulders for about 1 hour after the injection. Other cases in group A1 almost achieved a satisfactory sedative condition. In group A2, a higher dose was necessary for control of jaw movements, but it made airway maintenance more difficult. In the R group, the score related to the airway was zero in all cases. Although the patients of this group were administered a higher dose of flunitrazepam than the other groups, the dose was not enough for control of resistant behavior.