Assessment of stress during periodontal surgery with intravenous sedation and with local anesthesia only.

Ten patients with moderate to advanced periodontal disease were subjected to two similar periodontal surgical procedures. Each patient received either intravenous conscious sedation with local anesthesia or local anesthesia only. The stress-reducing effects of a conscious sedation regimen consisting of pentobarbital, meperidine, and diazepam were evaluated in these patients. Stress was evaluated by monitoring changes in serum cortisol, human growth hormone, and vital signs. Blood samples were obtained at 15- to 30-minute intervals throughout each procedure and were evaluated for serum cortisol and growth hormone. The conscious sedation group had significantly lower serum cortisol levels and lower systolic blood pressure, indicating that the patients having periodontal surgery with conscious sedation experienced reduced stress. Physiologic stability was maintained for each patient, indicating that this conscious sedation regimen can be used to reduce measurable parameters of stress that patients develop during periodontal surgery.