Recovery of dynamic balance after general anesthesia with sevoflurane in short-duration oral surgery.

PURPOSE: Recovery of dynamic balance, involving adjustment of the center of gravity, is essential for safe discharge on foot after ambulatory anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to assess the recovery of dynamic balance after general anesthesia with sevoflurane, using two computerized dynamic posturographies. METHODS: Nine hospitalized patients undergoing oral surgery of less than 2 h duration under general anesthesia (air-oxygensevoflurane) were studied. A dynamic balance test, assessing the ability of postural control against unpredictable perturbation stimuli (Stability System; Biodex Medical), a walking analysis test using sheets with foot pressure sensors (Walk Way-MG1000; Anima), and two simple psychomotor function tests were performed before anesthesia (baseline), and 150 and 210 min after the emergence from anesthesia. RESULTS: Only the double-stance phase in the walking analysis test showed a significant difference between baseline and results at 150 min. None of the other variables showed any differences among results at baseline and at 150 and 210 min. CONCLUSION: The recovery times for dynamic balance and psychomotor function seem to be within 150 min after emergence from general anesthesia with sevoflurane in patients undergoing oral surgery of less than 2-h duration.

Fitting complete dentures after multiple tooth extraction in a patient with severe dementia.

Complete dentures were constructed after tooth extraction for a 71-year-old uncommunicative patient with Alzheimer's disease. Although she had never previously used them, her husband requested the fitting of complete maxillary and mandibular dentures. Thirteen teeth were extracted under local anesthesia and intravenous sedation (IVS), followed by impression-making under IVS. Denture fabrication and adjustment were carried out under mild physical restraint. A tissue conditioner was applied to the fitting surface of the denture base followed by regular denture adjustments. The time required for the patient to eat a meal decreased from 90 minutes without dentures to 30 minutes with dentures due to an improvement in swallowing. Important factors in the successful fitting and use of dentures in this patient were the use of IVS to control behavior during treatment, the treatment plan focused on painless denture use, and oral care by the patient's husband.