Objective

To determine heart rate and blood pressure variations after local infiltration of two different anesthetic solutions in pediatric patients of the Postgraduate School of Dentistry of the UNAM, from March to June 2005.

Methods

Monitored clinical survey In which 20 children aged 7 to 11 without sexual distinction were Included. They had no systemic alteration and they all required dental treatment in both sides of the upper arch. Each patient was seen twice, using a different anesthetic per appointment (2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine, and 2% mepivacaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine). The observer measured the heart rate and blood pressure previous to anesthetic infiltration, as well as 10 and 20 minutes later. Data was analyzed by student's paired f test.

Results

An increment in heart rate was observed 10 and 20 minutes following the injection with lidocaine as well as with mepivacaine. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements Increased after 10 and 20 minutes with mepivacaine, in contrast to lidocaine, with which measurements remained stable. However, there were no significant differences between both anesthetics for heart rate (t2 = 1.8, p = 0.55), systolic (t2 = 2.6, p = 0.42) and diastolic blood pressure (t2 = 1.5, p = 0.68). The relation between the sex and heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure was not significant with the usage of both anesthetic solutions.

Conclusion

The variations found in heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, between lidocaine and mepivacaine, both with epinephrine, following local dental infiltration in the pediatric patient, were not significant. Increasing sample size and controlling variables such as fast and stress is suggested for further investigations.