More details revealed about 9-year-old who died after dental procedure under anesthesia
Additional details have emerged about the death of a 9-year-old girl following a dental procedure in which she was placed under general anesthesia.
The girl named Silvanna Moreno made headlines after she underwent a procedure on her teeth at Dreamtime Dentistry in the city of Vista, where the staff put her under anesthesia. She was found unresponsive by her parents just hours after getting discharged from the facility.
On Tuesday, April 1, the doctor's office told PEOPLE Magazine that the girl woke up in the recovery room afterwards and that her mom even "helped her stand up."
Per the media outlet, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office said that after leaving, "she stayed sleeping and was transitioned into her bed at home."
It added that her family "checked on her throughout the day to later find her unresponsive in bed and called 911 for emergency services assistance."
Moreno was brought to Rady Children's Hospital, where she was later declared dead on March 18.
According to NBC 7 San Diego, the medical examiner "listed the cause and manner of death as pending."
Dreamtime's dentist Dr. Ryan Watkins, in a statement shared by KSWB and NBC 7, said they're deeply saddened by Moreno's death.
"The patient was referred to our office for dental treatment under general anesthesia due to her young age and acute situational anxiety," Watkins said. "Throughout the procedure, she was continuously monitored by our dentist anesthesiologist, who is a Diplomate of the National Dental Board of Anesthesiology as well as a Fellow in Anesthesiology from American Dental Society of Anesthesiology and active member of the American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists who has over 20 years of experience successfully administering general anesthesia on children, with no complications observed."
Watkins noted that the girl was discharged "in stable condition—awake, with stable vital signs and protective reflexes intact—into her mother’s care, following our standard post-anesthesia protocols."
He said they're fully cooperating with authorities and are "committed to ensuring all facts come to light."
Watkins noted that they cannot discuss specifics yet due to privacy laws and the active investigation.
"While we understand the concerns and questions surrounding this tragic event, we respectfully ask for patience as the investigation proceeds," he said. "For the sake of the family and the integrity of the process, we encourage restraint regarding speculation."
He assured the public that they'd provide updates "when appropriate."
According to Mayo Clinic, general anesthesia brings on a sleep-like state. It usually uses a combination of medicines given through a vein and inhaled gases.
While one is asleep under general anesthesia, they won't feel pain as their brain doesn't respond to pain signals or reflexes.
