Girl, 9, died just hours after being placed under anesthesia for dental procedure
Topics: California, Health, Life
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: GoFundMe
Topics: California, Health, Life
A nine-year-old girl tragically died just hours after being placed under anesthesia for a dental procedure.
Silvanna Moreno lost her life on March 18 this year after undergoing dental surgery at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista, California, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office.
The autopsy report said the youngster first complained of a toothache in October 2024 and was referred for surgery at the dentist following a consultation.
In a statement provided to UNILAD, Dreamtime Dentistry's Dr Ryan Watkins said: "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.
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"The Medical Examiner has released a preliminary summary.
"The cause of death has been determined to be methemoglobinemia in the setting of recent nitrous oxide administration, with contributing conditions including the administration of multiple anesthetic medications. The manner of death has been ruled accidental."
The autopsy report went on to say Silvanna had a 101-degree fever and 'complained of a headache' before the procedure took place.
The young girl was described as 'out of it' after the surgery, according to the autopsy report, but was later released to her mother's care 'after she was awake with stable vital signs'.
Dr Watkins added in a statement: "Silvanna was monitored in our recovery area until she was awake with stable vital signs. She successfully completed our comprehensive 6-point discharge protocol checking for oxygenation, respiratory stability, consciousness, post operative pain, nausea and vomiting, and gait.
"She was then released to her mother's care in stable condition awake, alert, and with all protective reflexes intact."
Dr Watkins said to People that Silvanna was a 'healthy nine-year-old with a history of regular medical checkups' and that the youngster went through a 'thorough review of her medical and dental history' before having the surgery.
After falling asleep in the car on the way back from the dentist, Silvanna stayed asleep once back home where she was being monitored, the autopsy report said.
As she remained 'unresponsive', her family called 911 and she was rushed to Rady Children’s Hospital.
While at the hospital, Silvanna was 'provided additional medications, ongoing chest compressions, and was intubated but her condition did not improve', according to the medical examiner's report. She was pronounced dead at 5:44 pm local time.
The nine-year-old's cause of death was listed as 'methemoglobinemia in the setting of recent nitrous oxide administration', methemoglobinemia is a rare blood disorder that affects how red blood cells deliver oxygen throughout your body, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
"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," Dr Watkins added as he claimed Silvanna 'never exhibited' signs of the condition.
Dr Watkins continued in a statement to UNILAD: "During the procedure, we maintained our standard of care with continuous monitoring by me, Dr. Watkins, board-certified dental anesthesiologist with over 20 years of experience in pediatric anesthesia.
"We had our full complement of trained staff present, including two certified dental assistants with pediatric acute life support training and an operating dentist, who performed the dental treatment. All medications were administered according to manufacturer guidelines based on Silvanna's age and weight."
A subsequent GoFundMe was set up following the youngster's tragic death.
"It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic loss of 9-year-old Silvanna Moreno," a description of the third-grader reads. "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."