Girl Dies After Dental Treatment

[Lil Pun]

It is stuff like this tht keeps people I know from becoming workers in the field of anesthesia because when you administer this stuff you basically have somebody's life in your hands.

5 Year Old Gets Sedatives At Dentist Office, Never Awakens

CHICAGO - A 5-year-old Chicago girl who never awoke from her sedation during a visit to the dentist died Wednesday at Children's Memorial Hospital, a hospital official said.

Kindergartner Diamond Brownridge had been in a coma and on life support since the weekend dentist visit, said Julie Pesch, a spokeswoman for Children's Memorial Hospital.

Family members have said Diamond received a triple dose of sedatives — an oral agent, an intravenous drug and nitrous oxide gas — during Saturday's exam at Little Angel Dental. The girl was having two cavities filled and caps placed on her lower front teeth.

The girl's mother, Ommettress Travis, has said she was asked to leave the room during the half-hour procedure. When she returned, her daughter was lying in the dental chair, not breathing, Travis said.

The girl's dentist, Hicham Riba, was certified to administer anesthesia to patients and his state license was current, said Susan Hofer, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Speaking to the Chicago Sun-Times before the girl died, the 40-year-old Riba said he was traumatized by what happened. "I don't think I will ever go back to a normal life after an experience like this," he said.

The telephone rang unanswered at Riba's home Wednesday night.

[AntiSonic]

That's terrible. I get worried every time any relative has to go under the knife.

on a lighter note:



Don't be fooled if I should chuckle like hyenas in a zoo
It's just the gas, it turns me on
But don't let my mirth deceive you
Any moment I'll be gone
All my vital signs are failing
'Cause the oxide I'm inhaling
Makes it difficult as hell to catch my breath
Are you dumb or hard of hearing?
Or relieved my end is nearing?
Are you satisfied? I laughed myself to...

death.

[Saint Louis]

That is just sad. I remember when my daughter had tubes put in her ears. She came around from the anesthesia fine, but there was a six or seven year old boy in their completely listless and they were informing the parents he would have to be kept overnight for observation.

[KePoW]

yeah, that's the danger of general anesthetics, but sometimes there's no other option

sad to hear

[kobefor3ITSGOOD]

Yeah I read about this too. I would hate to die like this and I can bet you there will be lawsuits.

[A-Train]

Here is a photo of the dentist in question...

[rockbox]

The problem is that most dentist administer the anasthesia themselves and they aren't trained as extensively as specialist are. The also don't have the tools in the office to handle bad side effects especially with small children. I would never be put under at a dental office. I want an anasthegiolist on hand if they ever want to put me out.

[Rocketman95]

This is why I don't go to the dentist.

[RocketMan Tex]

The anesthesiologist who sedated me for my surgery in 2000 was cool.

He was an old school hippie with a ponytail.

Before he put me under, I informed him that I, *ahem*, had years of experience with drugs and had a high tolerance.

He smiled and said "Duuuuuude. Don't worry. You're in good hands".

When I woke up in the hospital room after the surgery, he checked in on me 10 minutes later. His first words to me were "so how did you like that half grain of morphine I gave you?"

[hooroo]

Originally Posted by KePoW yeah, that's the danger of general anesthetics, but sometimes there's no other option sad to hear

i've never been given the gas, only the injection.

[Cohen]

Originally Posted by Saint Louis That is just sad. I remember when my daughter had tubes put in her ears. She came around from the anesthesia fine, but there was a six or seven year old boy in their completely listless and they were informing the parents he would have to be kept overnight for observation.

In 1993 there was a nasty anesthesiologist in Colorado who fell asleep during an 8 year-old's 'tubes' surgery. The nurses feared him too much to say anything, and the boy died. The hospital claimed a rare reaction to the anesthesia, then someone (prob from the operatring room) anonymously called the HMO and implied that they should look into the matter. The HMO's medical director did, and doctor was charged with manslaughter ... but ended up only losing his medical license.

[Dubious]

My anesthesiologist uses Fentanyl for my sunus surgeries. He said it is 1000 times stronger than heroin. So In the operating room I said, Doc give me the Fentanyl first (before the sleepy Versed).....I didn''t remember a thing either time. I remember rolling in to the OR and waking up in the lounge chair.

I did take headphones with me to the waiting room. You get a little Versed to relax you so that's a nice legal buzz.

I've had so many surgeries lately that they don't really scare me. My perverse comfort is that if you did die under anesthetic that would be the absolute best way to meet the inevitable.

Sorry for this little girls family though. They have the pain.

[SwoLy-D]

Well, that's what she gets for accepting the DENIAL Treatment.

Wait... uh... DENTAL? Not DENIAL? So you can't die from a DENIAL treatment? Damn.

[Saint Louis]

Originally Posted by rockbox The problem is that most dentist administer the anasthesia themselves and they aren't trained as extensively as specialist are. The also don't have the tools in the office to handle bad side effects especially with small children. I would never be put under at a dental office. I want an anasthegiolist on hand if they ever want to put me out.

When I had my wisdom teeth cut out they had an anasthegiolist in the room to knock me out. I woke up humming Comfortably Numb.

[Phreak3]

Originally Posted by KePoW yeah, that's the danger of general anesthetics, but sometimes there's no other option sad to hear

Maybe that's true if you're having surgery. But common, for dental treatment, I don't think you ever NEED to be put totally under. I had all my wisdom teeth pulled out and even though the dentist recommended I go to sleep, I opted for just the local. And in the end, it wasn't that bad.. definitely less painful than getting braces.

[rrj_gamz]

RIP...this is sad...I pray for the parents...

[SwoLy-D]

Originally Posted by Saint Louis When I had my wisdom teeth cut out they had an anasthegiolist in the room to knock me out. I woke up humming Comfortably Numb.

you were probably humming WHILE you were out... hi-YOooOooo!!!! :D

[rezdawg]

Im in my 2nd year of dental school...kinda seems a bit much that they dosed her with those quantities for 2 cavities and caps. Simple local anesthetic should have done the trick...maybe there is more to the story.