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Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Girl, 9, dies after falling asleep in car on way home from dentist
A nine year old lass tragically passed away just hours after falling asleep in the car on her way home from the dentist. Silvanna Moreno first complained of toothache in October last year, according to the post-mortem report, and was eventually referred for surgery. Following a consultation, the operation was scheduled for March this year. On the morning of March 17, the day before the procedure, Silvanna had a fever of 101 degrees, as per the postmortem report. She took Children's Tylenol and her symptoms seemed to subside. The following morning, she "complained of a headache" but did not seem distressed - and around 10am local time, she was put under anaesthesia for the procedure, which lasted about three hours. The Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista, California confirmed that the procedure was carried out under general anaesthesia due to her young age and acute situational anxiety. After the procedure, she was taken to a room to recover, during which time she was described as being "out of it" and "incomprehensibly mumbling," according to the postmortem report, reports the Mirror. Silvanna left the office in a wheelchair but was reportedly able to stand up and be helped into the backseat of a car. On the drive home she fell asleep and when they got home, she stayed asleep for about an hour and a half before her snoring began "quieting and slowing." Moreno's family were checking on her regularly, but when she became "unresponsive," they dialled 999 at 4:46pm. They performed CPR until the emergency services arrived and took her to hospital. Despite efforts by Rady Children's Hospital staff, Silvanna could not be saved and was declared deceased at 5:44pm local time. Her death was attributed to methemoglobinemia following recent nitrous oxide use, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office (SDCME) postmortem report. On Friday, May 30, a representative for Dreamtime Dentistry stated, that they were "not aware of a fever nor any illness" and that Silvanna had a normal temperature on the day of the dental work. "Dreamtime Dentistry's records show that the patient's mother completed and signed a pre-operative check-in form indicating 'NO' when asked if the patient was sick. Dr. Watkins follows standard protocol. Had he been informed of any recent fever or illness, especially within 24 hours of the procedure, it would have been rescheduled until the patient was healthy." Dr. Ryan Watkins himself previously said that Silvanna was a "healthy nine-year-old with a history of regular medical checkups" and had undergone a "thorough review of her medical and dental history" prior to the treatment. Watkins also noted that "all medications were administered according to manufacturer guidelines based on Silvanna's age and weight." Watkins explained that Silvanna "never exhibited" any signs of methemoglobinemia during or after the procedure. Watkins noted that Silvanna was under observation "until she was awake with stable vital signs" and upon being released to her mother's care, the child was reportedly "awake, alert, and with all protective reflexes intact," having been checked for a range of assessments including "oxygenation, respiratory stability, consciousness, post operative pain, nausea and vomiting, and gait." The report from the medical examiner also listed several contributing factors to her demise, notably the "administration of dexamethasone, glycopyrrolate, hydromorphone, isoflurane, ketorolac, midazolam, ondansetron, propofol, and sevoflurane." Dreamtime Dentistry defended the use of these medications, asserting they are "standard anesthesia drugs commonly used in pediatric dental sedation procedures" and maintained that "any interactions or negative side effects were not due to dosage but instead due to her rare but undiagnosed/undetected medical condition." Watkins said, "While the Medical Examiner has ruled this an accident, we take this outcome with the utmost seriousness. We are conducting a thorough internal review of this case and are consulting with leading experts in dental anesthesia to ensure we continue to provide the safest possible care for our patients." He stated that "While the Medical Examiner has ruled this an accident, we take this outcome with the utmost seriousness. We are conducting a thorough internal review of this case and are consulting with leading experts in dental anesthesia to ensure we continue to provide the safest possible care for our patients,". Furthermore, Watkins said, "we extend our deepest condolences to Silvanna's family and ask for continued respect for their privacy during this time of grief." The family of young Silvanna Moreno has created a GoFundMe page to gather funds for the funeral of their 'bright and joyful' daughter, sharing touching memories in their plea for support. The fundraiser's description highlighted her vibrant spirit: "Silvanna was a bright and loving third grader at Sherman Elementary School in San Diego. She was the sunshine in every room she entered, always greeting staff and classmates with a big smile and an even bigger hug. Her friends describe her as kind, caring, and always happy, a true friend to everyone she met. She was also an amazing big sister to Roberto, showing love and devotion every day."
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'Healthy' girl, 9, falls asleep after dentist appointment but dies hours later
At around 10am Silvanna Moreno, 9, was placed under anesthesia for the dental procedure, which lasted about three hours - but by 5:44pm that evening she was dead A nine-year-old girl who fell asleep in the car on the way home from the dentist tragically died just hours later. Silvanna Moreno first complained of tooth pain in October last year, according to the autopsy report, and was eventually referred for surgery and after a consultation, the surgery was booked for March this year. On March 17, the morning before the procedure, Silvanna had a 101-degree fever, according to the autopsy report. She took Children's Tylenol and her symptoms appeared to resolve. The next morning, she "complained of a headache" but did not appear distressed — and around 10am local time, she was placed under anesthesia for the procedure, which lasted about three hours. The Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista, California confirmed the procedure was peformed under general anesthesia due to her young age and acute situational anxiety. After the procedure, she was taken to a room to recover during which time she was described as being "out of it" and "incomprehensibly mumbling," according to the autopsy report. Silvanna left the office in a wheelchair but was reportedly able to stand up and be helped into the backseat of a car. On the drive home she fell asleep and when they got home, she stayed asleep for about an hour and a half before her snoring began "quieting and slowing." Moreno's family checked on her rergularly but when she became "unresponsive," they called 911 at 4:46pm. They conducted CPR until first responders arrived and rushed her to hospital. Staff at Rady Children's Hospital tried to save her but were unsucessful and she was pronounced dead at 5:44pm local time. Her cause of death was listed as methemoglobinemia in the setting of recent nitrous oxide administration, according to a San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office (SDCME) autopsy report. In a statement on Friday, May 30, a spokesperson for Dreamtime Dentistry claimed they were "not aware of a fever nor any illness" and that Silvanna had a normal temperature the day of the procedure, reports PEOPLE. "Dreamtime Dentistry's records show that the patient's mother completed and signed a pre-operative check-in form indicating 'NO' when asked if the patient was sick. Dr. Watkins follows standard protocol. Had he been informed of any recent fever or illness, especially within 24 hours of the procedure, it would have been rescheduled until the patient was healthy." In his own statement, Dr. Ryan Watkins previously described Silvanna as a "healthy nine-year-old with a history of regular medical checkups" and said that she underwent a "thorough review of her medical and dental history" before the procedure. Watkins also said that "all medications were administered according to manufacturer guidelines based on Silvanna's age and weight." Watkins said Silvanna 'never exhibited' warning signs of methemoglobinemia throughout either the procedure or her recovery. According to Watkins, Silvanna remained under observation "until she was awake with stable vital signs" — and before being released into her mother's care "awake, alert, and with all protective reflexes intact," the child was checked for "oxygenation, respiratory stability, consciousness, post operative pain, nausea and vomiting, and gait." In addition to her cause of death, the medical examiner listed contributing factors as the "administration of dexamethasone, glycopyrrolate, hydromorphone, isoflurane, ketorolac, midazolam, ondansetron, propofol, and sevoflurane." According to Dreamtime Dentistry, all of those medications are "standard anesthesia drugs commonly used in pediatric dental sedation procedures" and they claim that "any interactions or negative side effects were not due to dosage but instead due to her rare but undiagnosed/undetected medical condition." 'While the Medical Examiner has ruled this an accident, we take this outcome with the utmost seriousness. We are conducting a thorough internal review of this case and are consulting with leading experts in dental anesthesia to ensure we continue to provide the safest possible care for our patients," Watkins said. Added Watkins, "we extend our deepest condolences to Silvanna's family and ask for continued respect for their privacy during this time of grief." Moreno's family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to cover the funeral cost of their 'bright and joyful' daughter. The fundraiser said: "Silvanna was a bright and loving third grader at Sherman Elementary School in San Diego. She was the sunshine in every room she entered, always greeting staff and classmates with a big smile and an even bigger hug. Her friends describe her as kind, caring, and always happy, a true friend to everyone she met. She was also an amazing big sister to Roberto, showing love and devotion every day."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
9-Year-Old Fell Asleep While Coming Home from Dental Procedure and Never Woke Up. Inside Her Final Moments
Silvanna Moreno, a 9-year-old California girl, died on March 18, hours after undergoing a three-hour dental procedure An autopsy report revealed her cause of death was methemoglobinemia in the setting of recent nitrous oxide administration Additionally, the autopsy shed new light on her final momentsNew details offer insight into the final moments of a 9-year-old girl who was put under anesthesia for a dental procedure one morning — then was dead hours later. Silvanna Moreno died on March 18 hours after undergoing surgery at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista, Calif., according to a San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office (SDCME) autopsy report obtained by PEOPLE. Her cause of death was listed as methemoglobinemia in the setting of recent nitrous oxide administration. Silvanna first complained of tooth pain in October, according to the autopsy report, and was eventually referred for surgery at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista. After a consultation, the surgery was booked for March. "The patient was referred to our office for dental treatment under general anesthesia due to her young age and acute situational anxiety," Dreamtime Dentistry's Dr. Ryan Watkins said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. The morning before the procedure, the Southern California third grader had a 101-degree fever, according to the autopsy report. She took Children's Tylenol and her symptoms appeared to resolve. The next morning, she "complained of a headache" but did not appear distressed — and around 10 a.m. local time, she was placed under anesthesia for the procedure, which lasted about three hours. In his own statement, Watkins described Silvanna as a "healthy nine-year-old with a history of regular medical checkups" and said that she underwent a "thorough review of her medical and dental history" before the procedure. Additionally, Watkins insisted that "all medications were administered according to manufacturer guidelines based on Silvanna's age and weight." Watkins said Silvanna 'never exhibited' warning signs of methemoglobinemia, an "extremely rare condition that can occur with nitrous oxide administration," throughout either the procedure or her recovery. "In patients experiencing this condition, there is typically a refractory hypoxemia, which means that even when breathing 100% oxygen with no airway obstruction, pulse oximetry readings will show abnormally low levels in the 80s instead of the normal high 90s," explained Watkins, who said he continuously monitored Silvanna throughout the procedure. After the procedure, she went to a recovery room. During that time, she was described as being "out of it" and "incomprehensibly mumbling," according to the autopsy report. According to Watkins, Silvanna remained under observation "until she was awake with stable vital signs" — and before being released into her mother's care "awake, alert, and with all protective reflexes intact," the child was checked for "oxygenation, respiratory stability, consciousness, post operative pain, nausea and vomiting, and gait." The girl left the office in a wheelchair, according to the autopsy report, but was reportedly able to stand up and be helped into the backseat of a car. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. On the drive home, she fell asleep and began snoring loudly, according to the autopsy report. When they got home, she remained asleep and was carried inside and put into bed on her side, where she was monitored. She stayed asleep for about an hour and a half before her snoring began "quieting and slowing." Moreno's family used her grandma's blood pressure cuff to check her vitals — and as she remained "unresponsive," they called 911 at 4:46 p.m. A dispatcher instructed her family to move her from the bed to the floor and start chest compressions until first responders arrived. First responders transported Silvanna to Rady Children's Hospital in an ambulance and emergency personnel continued chest compressions, supplemental oxygen and other lifesaving measures on the way. She was suffering from asystole, also known as 'flat-lining.' At the hospital, she was "provided additional medications, ongoing chest compressions, and was intubated but her condition did not improve,' per the medical examiner's report. Resuscitative efforts ended when heart testing at her bedside showed no cardiac activity. A doctor pronounced her dead at 5:44 p.m. local time. In addition to her cause of death, the medical examiner listed contributing factors as the "administration of dexamethasone, glycopyrrolate, hydromorphone, isoflurane, ketorolac, midazolam, ondansetron, propofol, and sevoflurane." According to Watkins, those are all anesthetic medications. 'While the Medical Examiner has ruled this an accident, we take this outcome with the utmost seriousness. We are conducting a thorough internal review of this case and are consulting with leading experts in dental anesthesia to ensure we continue to provide the safest possible care for our patients," Watkins said. Added Watkins, "we extend our deepest condolences to Silvanna's family and ask for continued respect for their privacy during this time of grief." Read the original article on People
NBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- NBC News
9-year-old San Diego girl's death after dental procedure ruled an accident
More than two months after a 9-year-old San Diego girl died after she underwent anesthesia for a dental procedure, officials have released new details in her death. The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the March 18 death of Silvanna Moreno an accident, according to an updated summary report. It listed her cause of death as "methemoglobinemia in the setting of recent nitrous oxide administration." Contributing conditions included the administration of multiple anesthetic medications. Methemoglobinemia is a very rare blood disorder that affects how red blood cells deliver oxygen, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Not everyone experiences symptoms, but nearly all people with the disorder have skin, lips or nails that are blue or purple. In some cases, it can be life-threatening. People can inherit the disorder, but it usually happens "when people use certain medications or recreational drugs or exposure to certain chemicals," according to the Cleveland Clinic. The dental procedure took place on March 18 at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista. Dr. Ryan Watkins, the office's trained anesthesiologist, said methemoglobinemia can occur with the administration of nitrous oxide. He said Silvanna never exhibited signs that something was wrong during the procedure. "If we had observed any indication of methemoglobinemia, we would have immediately discontinued the procedure and transported her to the hospital for emergency treatment," he said in a statement. The day before the procedure, Silvanna had a fever and was given children's Tylenol, People magazine reported, citing an autopsy report. The day of, she complained of a headache but did not appear to be distressed, it said. The dental procedure was three hours long. Watkins said Silvanna was "a healthy nine-year-old with a history of regular medical checkups" and underwent the office's standard preoperative evaluation. He said he evaluated her as "an appropriate candidate for outpatient general anesthesia" and continuously monitored Silvanna throughout the procedure. Afterwards, she was monitored in a recovery area "until she was awake with stable vital signs," he said. She was evaluated before she was released into her mother's care, he said. Silvanna's family could not be reached for comment on Friday. According to the medical examiner's summary report, Silvanna fell asleep during the car ride home and stayed sleeping upon her arrival. Family members put her in bed and checked on her throughout the day. Her family later found her unresponsive and called 911, according to the summary report. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Watkins said the office is conducting an internal review of the case and will consult with experts "to ensure we continue to provide the safest possible care for our patients." "We are profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of Silvanna Moreno, and our hearts continue to go out to her family during this incredibly difficult time," he said. Watkins was previously investigated by the Dental Board of California after a 54-year-old patient nearly died in 2016, according to NBC San Diego. State investigators said the man was put under anesthesia and was given two drugs, which led to his heart stopping. Investigators had said that one of the drugs should never have been given to the man. Watkins was put on probation from 2020 to 2023, according to a decision order. The man ended up filing a lawsuit against Watkins, which was later settled, NBC San Diego reported.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Cause, manner of death revealed for 9-year-old who died after dental procedure
Above: Report from April 2 on the death of a 9-year-old following a dental procedure. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the cause and manner of death in the passing of a 9-year-old following a dental procedure involving anesthesia at a Vista office earlier this year. The third-grader died on March 18, several hours after undergoing surgery at Dreamtime Dentistry. The incident prompted an investigation by the San Diego Police Department's Child Abuse Unit to determine what may have led to her death. Some of the details identified in the course of the investigation were released in a preliminary report from the medical examiner's office last month. 'pH Miracle' author sentenced for practicing medicine without a license According to the medical examiner, she was awake when she was discharged from the facility, but fell asleep again on the ride home. Once at home, her family moved her to her bed, where they continued to check on her throughout the day. A short while later, they noticed she had become unresponsive, prompting them to call 911. The 9-year-old was transported to the emergency department at Rady Children's Hospital, where life-saving measures were attempted to no avail. In the preliminary report, the medical examiner's office had listed the cause and manner of death as 'pending.' This has since been updated to describe her death as accidental, caused by Methemoglobinemia from the administration of nitrous oxide. Methemoglobinemia is a condition commonly referred to as 'blue baby syndrome' that limits the capability of red blood cells to deliver oxygen to the rest of the body. Some can inherit the disorder genetically, although it is also commonly associated with exposure to certain recreational drugs, medications or chemicals like nitrous oxide, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Per the medical examiner's office, the nine-year-old received nitrous oxide, which is commonly used in dental practice as a less potent anesthetic, in the cocktail of sedatives she received for her procedure. She also had other drugs routinely used in anesthesia practice like dexamethasone, glycopyrrolate, hydromorphone, isoflurane, ketorolac, midazolam, ondansetron, propofol and sevoflurane in her system when she passed, per the medical examiner's report. Student pilot in SR-76 emergency plane landing sentenced to prison for drug trafficking FOX 5/KUSI reached out to Dreamtime Dentistry for comment on the new details and is awaiting response. Dr. Ryan Watkins, the 9-year-old's dentist and anesthesiologist, said in a previous statement Dreamtime was 'deeply saddened by the tragic passing of our young patient, which occurred several hours after her completed dental procedure.' 'Our hearts break for the family during this unimaginable time of grief, and we extend our deepest condolences as we maintain our focus on supporting the family and cooperating fully with the medical investigation,' the statement went on. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
