Medical emergencies in the pediatric patient: airway management.

Fortunately, the incidence of pediatric respiratory emergencies is extremely low during pediatric dental treatment. As most cardiopulmonary arrests in children result from a progressive deterioration in respiratory function, outcome is critically dependent on rapid diagnosis and evaluation of the adequacy of ventilation in the pediatric airway. Medically compromised children are best treated in facilities equipped for their care and staffed by personnel trained in emergency treatment. Iatrogenic complications can be reduced by strict adherence to recommended pediatric drug and local anesthesia dosages with a critical eye regarding drug interactions and the additive effects of central nervous system depressants.