Sick sinus syndrome diagnosed after a sinus arrest during treatment for zygomatic fracture: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative sinus arrest is rarely seen during zygomatic fracture treatment. The patient was diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome based on repeated postoperative sinus arrest, which could have resulted in death if diagnosed late, making this case very significant to report. CASE PRESENTATION: Sick sinus syndrome is an arrhythmia associated with reduced automaticity of the sinoatrial node or impaired sinoatrial node conduction. We report the case of a 67-year-old man diagnosed with the syndrome after a sinus arrest that occurred during a zygomatic fracture treatment. The patient had cheek pain and mouth opening disorder, dizziness after fainting and sustaining a facial injury. Preoperative examination determined that the syncope was due to drug-induced arrhythmia, and surgery was authorized after drug withdrawal. During the operation, sinus arrest was observed due to trigeminal vagal reflex, and heart rate was restarted by stopping the operation and chest compressions. After the surgery, the patient showed symptoms of dizziness and palpitations, and sinus arrest following atrial fibrillation and supraventricular tachycardia, which was diagnosed as sick sinus syndrome, and a pacemaker was implanted. Currently, 8 years have passed since the surgery, and there are no symptoms of mouth opening disorder, dizziness, or palpitations. CONCLUSIONS: In the case of maxillofacial injuries due to syncope, cardiogenic syncope is a possibility, and repeated syncope is a risk for death due to delayed diagnosis. There are no reports of maxillofacial trauma leading to a diagnosis of sick sinus syndrome. The purpose of this case report is to disseminate the importance of diagnosing the cause of syncope as well as injury treatment.

Syncope in Dental Practices: A Systematic Review on Aetiology and Management.

INTRODUCTION: This systematic review aimed to give an overview of the current evidence surrounding the aetiology and management in terms of treatment and prevention of syncope in dental practices. Alongside the occurrence, the practitioner's competence, and the association between syncope and local anaesthetics were discussed. METHODS: An electronic search in EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane databases and a hand search were performed by 2 independent reviewers to identify studies up to November 2019. Eligibility criteria were applied and relevant data was extracted. Inclusion criteria covered all types of dental treatment under local anaesthesia or conscious sedation performed by a wide range of oral health care workers in their practices. Risk of bias of the included studies was assessed using the methodological tools recommend by Zeng et al.1 No restrictions were made to exclude papers from qualitive analysis based on risk of bias assessment. RESULTS: The search yielded a total of 18 studies for qualitative analysis. With the exception of one prospective cohort study, all articles were considered having a high risk of bias. Meta-analysis showed that dentists encountered on average 1.2 cases of syncope per year. The male gender (RR = 2.69 [1.03, 7.02]), dental fear (RR = 3.55 [2.22, 5.70]), refusal of local anaesthesia in non-acute situations (OR = 12.9) and the use of premedication (RR = 4.70, [1.30, 16.90]) increased the risk for syncope. Treatment and prevention were underreported as both were solely discussed in one study. The supine recovery position with raised legs and oxygen administration (15l/min) was presented as an effective treatment. The Medical Risk-Related History (MRRH) system was proposed as prevention protocol, yet this protocol was ineffective in reducing incidence rates (p = 0.27). The majority of dentists (79.2%) were able to diagnose syncope, yet most (86%) lacked the skills for appropriate treatment. Only 57,6% of dental practices were equipped with an oxygen cylinder. CONCLUSIONS: Syncope is the most common emergency in dental practices. Nonetheless, the vast majority of dentists do not seem competent nor prepared to manage this emergency. Psychogenic factors seem to play an important role in provoking syncope. Placing the patient in a supine reclined position with raised legs in combination with the administration of oxygen seems effective for regaining consciousness. Although valuable in many aspects, risk assessment by medical history taking is not proven to result in fewer episodes. The strength of these conclusions is low based on GRADE guidelines.2.

The clinical characteristics of situational syncope in children and adults undergoing head-up tilt testing.

OBJECTIVE: Situational syncope is a subtype of neurally mediated syncope and associated with specific circumstances. This paper is to assess the clinical characteristics and underlying causes of situational syncope. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent head-up tilt testing (HUTT). Medical records including age at HUTT, gender, number of syncopal episodes, family history of syncope, triggers before the syncopal episode, position during the syncopal episode and the responses to HUTT were reviewed. RESULTS: Among 3140 patients, 354 patients (mean age 28.3 ± 16.6 years old, with 184 males and 170 females) were diagnosed with situational syncope. The causes of situational syncope included micturition (50.85%), defecation (15.82%), bathing (10.45%), swallowing (6.50%), cough (4.80%), post-dinner (3.95%), singing (3.11%), teeth brushing (2.26%), and hair grooming (2.26%). Patients with syncope triggered by micturition, cough, post-dinner were more likely to be men, while those caused by bathing, swallowing, singing, teeth brushing and hair grooming were more likely to be women. 34.75% of patients with situational syncope were between the ages of 10-19 years old, and 20.34% were between the ages of 40-49 years old. 74.01% of situational syncopal events occurred in an upright position. 47.74% of patients had positive responses to HUTT. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that micturition was the most common cause of situational syncope in both children and adults. There were significant gender and age differences among situational syncope triggered by different causes. Most of situational syncope occurred in the upright position and nearly half of the patients had positive responses to HUTT.

Postural blood pressure electrocardiographic changes are associated with falls in older people.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the magnitude of postural blood pressure change, differences in ECG between fallers and non-fallers were measured. Postural blood pressure change is associated with symptoms of dizziness, presyncope, and syncope. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study were included participants from The Malaysian Falls Assessment and Intervention Trial: fallers, aged 65 years or older with two or more falls or one injurious fall in 12 months, from a teaching hospital; and non-fallers, aged 65 years and older found through word-of-mouth and advertising. Noninvasive beat-to-beat blood pressure was measured at 10 min supine rest and 3 min standing. The maximal drop in systolic and diastolic pressure was calculated from a 12-lead ECG interpreted by a cardiologist. Basic demographics, medical history, and symptoms of dizziness, presyncope, and syncope were recorded for all patients. RESULTS: We recruited 155 fallers and 112 non-fallers. Fallers had a significantly longer PR interval (179 ± 32 vs. 168 ± 27 ms, p = 0.013) and a longer corrected QT interval (449 ± 41 vs. 443 ± 39 msec, p = 0.008), and larger change in SBP (28 ± 14 vs. 19 ± 9 mmHg, p < 0.001) with posture change. SBP drop of ≥30mmHg associated with recurrent and injurious falls [odds ratio [95 % confidence interval] = 7.61 (3.18-18.21)]. The changes remained significant after adjustment for symptoms of dizziness, presyncope and syncope. INTERPRETATION: Older individuals with recurrent and injurious falls have significantly longer PR and QT intervals and larger SBP reduction with posture change as compared to non-fallers, and these are not explained by the presence of dizziness, presyncope, or syncope. SBP cut-off of ≥30mmHg considered for postural measurements using continuous BP monitors, the significance of this value needs to be evaluated.

Complications of Moderate Sedation Versus Deep Sedation/General Anesthesia for Adolescent Patients Undergoing Third Molar Extraction.

PURPOSE: To examine the complications resulting from moderate sedation versus deep sedation/general anesthesia for adolescent patients undergoing third molar extraction and determine whether any differences in complication risks exist between the 2 levels of sedation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective study of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Outcomes System from January 2001 to December 2010. The primary predictor variable was the level of sedation, divided into 2 groups: moderate sedation versus deep sedation/general anesthesia. The primary outcome was the incidence of adverse complications resulting from the sedation level. Differences in the cohort characteristics were analyzed using the independent samples t test, χ(2) test, and analysis of variance, as appropriate. Multivariable logistic regression was used to measure the effect the level of sedation had on the adverse complication rate. RESULTS: Patients in the moderate sedation group had a complication rate of 0.5%, and patients in the deep sedation/general anesthesia group had a complication rate of 0.9%. Compared with moderate sedation, deep sedation/general anesthesia did not pose a significantly increased risk of adverse anesthesia complications (adjusted odds ratio 1.63, 95% confidence interval 0.95 to 2.81; P = .077). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study have shown that the risk of adverse anesthesia complications is not increased when choosing between moderate and deep sedation/general anesthesia for adolescent patients undergoing third molar extraction.

[Acute jaw-thoracic pain and syncope in a 41-year-old man]. / Akuter Kiefer-Thorax-Schmerz und Synkope bei einem 41-jährigen Patienten.

A 41-year-old physically active man with no significant past medical history presented with sudden thoracic pain. The patient was referred to the next tertiary care hospital. A CT scan showed an ectasia of the ascending aorta with irregularities of the aortic wall without dissection. Despite initial refusal, the patient was referred to a university hospital with experience in aortic surgery. A triphase ECG-synchronized cardiothoracic flash protocol performed on a 256 line CT scanner confirmed an aortic intramural hematoma and a covered aortic perforation. Shortly afterwards the patient collapsed and had to be resuscitated.

Lymphoma masquerading as jaw pain, headache, and syncope: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Lymphomas of parapharyngeal space often have complex manifestations, posing a diagnostic dilemma for clinicians. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 64-year-old man sought treatment for a 4-month history of unresolving right-sided headache and jaw pain associated with syncope, all of which started with a toothache. Since the onset of pain, the patient had undergone multiple diagnostic tests with various specialists, with no pain relief. A detailed clinical and radiologic examination by an orofacial pain specialist revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the parapharynx. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: A thorough knowledge of the head and neck anatomy helps in identifying the pathophysiology of complex orofacial pain manifestations, which assists in early diagnosis and treatment.

[Andersen-Tawil syndrome. Efficacy of class IC drugs].

A case of a rare disease - Andersen-Tawil the syndrome (ATS) is presented. Diagnosis of ATS, 7-th molecular-genetic variant of long QT syndrome was made basing on the characteristic clinical picture (periodic stress induced syncopal states), data of ECG and its Holter monitoring (pronounced QT prolongation, bouts of polymorphic bidirectional ventricular tachycardia), typical dysmorphic features (low-set ears, small mandible, brachydactyly, fifth-digit clinodactyly). However mutation of the KCNJ2 gene typical for this variant was not detected. Problems of pathogenesis, diagnostics, and treatment of the disease are discussed with special stress on class IC antiarrhythmic drugs.

A Patient with Severe Anxiety and Episodes of Fainting in Need of Dental Restoration.

Patients with extreme dental anxiety and dental phobia are candidates for syncope attacks in a dental chair. Early recognition and management of these episodes is important. Vasovagal syncope is often preceded by prodromal signs and symptoms like facial pallor, diaphoresis, fainting, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting. If any element of the patient's airway, breathing, or cardiovascular system is no longer intact, the provider should commence emergency basic life support protocols and notify emergency medical services immediately.

Frequency and characteristics of medical emergencies in an Australian dental school: A retrospective study.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: The frequency of medical emergencies in a dental setting is relatively low. However, most dental treatment occurs outside of a hospital setting; thus the time to respond to a life-threatening situation is crucial. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and characteristics of medical emergencies that occurred at the Griffith University Dental Clinic over a 6-year period. METHODS: Data involving medical emergencies was collected at a dental school between January 2014 and December 2019. Data was obtained from the risk incident reporting system (GSafe), and descriptive statistics were analyzed using IBM SPSS. RESULTS: The frequency of medical emergencies in a dental setting over the 6-year retrospective period based on the number of dental services provided was 0.037% (n = 108). The three most common medical emergencies were syncope (25.0%), hypoglycemia (16.7%), and foreign body ingestion (13.9%). These happened more often during dental extractions (26.9%), followed by local anesthesia (16.7%) and restorative procedures (13.0%). A larger portion of these incidents occurred during dental treatment (62.0%) as opposed to before (12.0%) or after (26.0%). Most medical emergencies happened within the dental student clinic (72.2%) followed by the dental waiting room (19.5%) and dental private clinic (8.3%). CONCLUSION: Overall, the number of medical emergencies at the Griffith University Dental Clinic was low. The most common medical emergencies were syncope, hypoglycemia, and foreign body ingestion. Dental education in preventative strategies and training in basic life support is necessary to ensure dental practitioners can manage the acute deterioration of a patient promptly.

Oral piercings: immediate and late complications.

PURPOSE: Oral piercings have a long history as part of religious, cultural, or sexual symbolism in many traditional tribes; currently, these ornaments have wide acceptance among young people. Several oral and systemic complications may be associated with this practice; however, limited data related to these complications can be obtained in the literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study includes 42 cases of oral piercings in 39 young adults, who were using or had used oral piercings, and the complications associated with their use. RESULTS: Immediate complications occurred in 29 cases, including excessive bleeding (69%) and pain (52.3%) as the most representative. Two cases of syncope were found. Late complications related to the piercing insertion site were observed in 97.6% of cases, with pain and swelling being present in 92.9% and 61.9% of cases, respectively. Dental pain and lacerations on the tongue represented the most prevalent complications associated with the surrounding tissues, accounting for 33.3% and 31% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: The use of oral piercings is related to a series of mainly local complications, and individuals who decide to use piercings should be aware of such complications. Individuals wishing to get a part of their body pierced should do so with qualified professionals and should regularly visit the dentist so that a regular control is achieved, thus ensuring the early detection of the adverse effects associated with this practice.

Safety of intravenous sedation administered by the operating oral surgeon: the second 7 years of office practice.

PURPOSE: This follow-up study provides an additional 7 years of data (December 2001 through November 2008) pertaining to complications that occurred in patients who received intravenous sedation in the practice of a single board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Together with the previously published 7 years of data (December 1994 through November 2001), this study summarizes the frequency of various complications encountered in patients sedated intravenously by the surgeon over a 14-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The files of intravenous sedation cases from the second 7-year period were reviewed for complications. These data were then compared, contrasted, and combined with the previously published sedation cases from the first 7 years. RESULTS: A total of 3,320 sedations were performed by the surgeon during this second 7-year period, with only 1.57% of patients having complications (52 patients having 60 adverse events). These results showed a slight decline in the frequency of complications. Over the entire 14-year period of study, a total of 6,209 sedations were performed by the surgeon, with 1.96% of patients having complications (122 patients having 137 adverse events). There were no deaths, and no patients required emergency transport to a hospital. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this follow-up study confirm the previous findings. The administration of intravenous sedation by the operating surgeon for outpatient oral surgery is safe, with a low frequency of complications. Numerous patients were also made aware of previously undiagnosed medical problems, improving overall patient health.

Prolonged QT syndrome and sedation: a case report and a review of the literature.

Prolonged QT syndrome is the most common genetic arrhythmia syndrome, and the majority of patients are undiagnosed. The syndrome is characterized by abnormally long ventricular repolarization (QT interval) on electrocardiogram, which may manifest as syncopal episodes, arrhythmias, or sudden death. Arrhythmias may be precipitated by stress or medications. There are few randomized controlled trials examining the safety of typical sedation medications in the patient with prolonged long-QT syndrome. This case describes the management of sedation in a patient with prolonged long-QT syndrome and then reviews the current literature regarding commonly utilized sedation medications.

A clinician guide to patients afraid of dental injections and numbness.

Fears of dental injections remain a clinical problem often requiring cognitive behavioural psychology counselling and sedation in order to carry out needed dental treatment. This study, based on a national survey in Australia, compared patient concerns about numbness caused by local anaesthesia and fears of the injection itself. It also examined associations between dental fearfulness and avoidance associated with patient self-reported negative experiences and treatment need. Clinical advice on how to approach such patients is offered. Relatively high levels of dental anxiety and fear have been reported in several industrialised Western societies (McGrath & Bedi, 2004; Armfield, Spencer & Stewart, 2006; Lahti et al., 2007; Enkling, Marwinski Jöhren, 2006). In the U.K., almost one in three adults consider themselves to always be anxious about going to the dentist (Nuttall et al., 2001). Of concern is that this dental fear may be passed on to the children of anxious adults (Nuttall, Gilbert & Morris, 2008), leading to an inter-generational perpetuation of the problem. There is considerable evidence that dental fear is related to poorer oral health, reduced dental attendance and increased treatment stress for the attending dentist. There are many aspects of going to a dentist that might elicit feelings of apprehension, concern or anxiety in prospective patients (Liddell & Gosse, 1998; Oosterink, de Jongh & Aartman, 2008). One of the most commonly reported concerns relates to receiving injections. Indeed, fear of needles and the treatment of injection fear has been an important focus of a research in the U.K. (Boyle, Newton & Milgrom, 2010). Needle fear, in particular, is a major issue given that the delivery of local anaesthesia via injection is the central plank of pain relief techniques in dentistry (Malamed, 2009) and dentists as well as patients often avoid difficult injections as a consequence, resulting in poor pain control. A less well described anxiety of receiving dental treatment is fear of numbness associated with the dental injection (Morse & Cohen, 1983). Certainly, many dentists believe that their patients avoid local anaesthesia because of a wish to avoid the disturbing effects of numbness (Moore et al., 1998). Milgrom et al. (1997) found that fears about the numbness associated with receiving local anaesthesia significantly differentiated avoiders and non-avoiders of dental treatment. However, these concerns appeared to be much less common than those concerning the perceived pain of injections and fear of bodily injury resulting from the injection (Milgrom et al., 1997; Kaako et al., 1998). Consistent with these findings, whereas 43% of English patients asked to imagine undergoing future third molar surgery expressed concerns primarily about pain, only 6% of patients indicated concern about numbness as their worst fear (Earl, 1994). More recently, a study of Dutch people found that the feeling of numbness from the anaesthesia was rated as the 41st most feared dental stimulus out of a list of 67 possible stimuli, and that only 1.5% of the general population regarded numbness as extremely anxiety provoking (Oosterink, de Jongh & Aartman, 2008). However, it is important for a clinician to differentiate between those who dislike the sensation of temporary numbness versus those who may worry that it may never wear off. Such problem thinking can be an issue irrespective of whether a patient overcomes the fear of needles with sedation or not. A large number of patients dislike the sensation of numbness enough for manufacturers to respond with a partial antidote in alpha adrenergic receptor antagonist phentolamine mesylate (OraVerse Sanofi-Aventis, Hersh & Lindemeyer, 2010). Approval of this agent, which shortens the length of soft tissue anaesthesia after inferior alveolar block, is pending in the UK and other European countries. In other cases, dentists resort to using local anaesthetics without vasoconstrictors to shorten the period of anaesthesia (Fiset, Getz, Milgrom & Weinstein, 1989). While the association between dental fear and fear of injections has received considerable attention, the relationship between dental fear and numbness has received less attention. In particular, the nature of the associations between dental fear and avoidance and anxiety over numbness has not been studied. There has also been no research into whether or not concerns over numbness are independent of injection concerns. Finally, the association between fear of numbness and injections and dental avoidance and treatment needs has not been investigated. This study, based on survey work in Australia, aimed to compare patient concerns about numbness caused by receiving anaesthesia to that of anxiety over the receipt of needles and injections. Associations with dental fear and avoidance as well as negative experiences and treatment needs were also explored.

Making prudent recommendations for return-to-play in adult athletes with cardiac conditions.

Clinicians who treat millions of adult athletes throughout the world may be faced with participation or return-to-play decisions in individuals with known or suspected cardiac conditions. Here we review existing published participation guidelines and analyze emerging data from ongoing registries and population-based studies pertaining to return-to-play decisions for cardiac conditions specifically affecting adult athletes. Considerations related to return-to-play decisions will vary according to age of the athlete, with inherited disorders being the main consideration in younger adult athletes aged 18 to 40 yr, and coronary artery disease being the main consideration in older adult athletes aged 40 yr and older. Although this arbitrary division is based on the epidemiology of underlying heart disease in these populations, the essential return-to-play decision process for both age groups is quite similar. Among the most widely used guidelines to make return-to-play decisions in this group of athletes are the 36th Bethesda Conference Eligibility Recommendations for Competitive Athletes with Cardiovascular Abnormalities. These have long been considered the "gold standard" for determining return-to-play decisions in young athletes in the United States. Other guidelines are available for unique purposes, including The European Society of Cardiology guidelines, and the American Heart Association published recommendations regarding participation of young patients (younger than 40 yr) with genetic cardiovascular diseases in recreational sports. The latter are consistent with the 36th Bethesda guidelines and cover common genetically based diseases such as inherited cardiomyopathies, channelopathy, and connective tissue disorders like Marfan's syndrome. The consensus on masters athletes (older than 40 yr) provides return-to-play decisions for a wide variety of conditioned states, from elite older athletes to walk-up athletes. For any adult athlete with a cardiac condition, return-to-play decisions following use of medications, ablation procedures, device implantation, corrective surgery, or coronary intervention depend on whether the procedure has sufficiently altered the risk for sudden cardiac events, and whether there is a potential for unfavorable interaction with cardiac performance.

Clinical results of carotid denervation by adventitial stripping in carotid sinus syndrome.

AIMS: Older patients with spells of syncope may suffer from a carotid sinus syndrome (CSS). Patients with invalidating CSS routinely receive pacemaker treatment. This study evaluated the safety and early outcome of a surgical technique termed carotid denervation by adventitial stripping for CSS treatment. METHODS: Carotid sinus massage (CSM) during cardiovascular monitoring confirmed CSS in patients with a history of repeated syncope and dizziness. The internal carotid artery was surgically denervated by adventitial stripping over a minimum distance of 3 cm via a standard open approach. Patient characteristics, perioperative complications and 30-day success rate were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 39 carotid denervation procedures was performed in 27 individuals (23 males, mean age 70+/-3 years) between 1980 and 2007 in a single institution. Eleven patients had a bilateral hypersensitive carotid sinus. Procedure related complications included wound hematoma (n=4), neuropraxia of the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve (n=2) and dysrhythmia responding to conservative treatment (n=3). Significant alterations in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were not observed. One patient developed a cerebral ischaemic vascular accident on the 24th postoperative day. One patient with residual disease had a successful redenervation within 1 month after the initial operation. Two patients with persistent symptoms received a pacemaker but also to no avail. At 30-day follow up 25 of 27 patients (93%) were free of syncope, and 24 free of a pacemaker (89%). CONCLUSION: Carotid denervation by adventitial stripping of the proximal carotid internal artery is effective and safe and may offer a valid alternative for pacemaker treatment in patients with carotid sinus syndrome.

Os odontoideum: a rare cause of syncope.

Syncopal events are a concerning presentation and timely evaluation is warranted. Common aetiologies include cardiac and neurological pathology such as arrhythmias, vertebrobasilar arterial disease and vasovagal syncope. We describe the case of a 65-year-old man who presented to our emergency department with symptoms of vertigo and syncope. He was investigated extensively for both cardiac and neurological causes of his symptoms which returned negative results. An outpatient CT scan demonstrated the presence of Os odontoideum and dynamic instability of the atlantoaxial junction, with presumed dynamic obstruction of the vertebral arterial system. This was successfully managed with a posterior atlantoaxial lateral mass fusion with resolution of syncopal symptoms.

Case of primary Sjogren's syndrome preceded by dystonia.

There are only six cases in literature that describe development of dystonia with Sjogren's syndrome (SS). We describe a case of a 43-year-old woman who presented with symptoms including movement disorder, sensory neurogenic bladder, sensory loss and neuropathic pain, migraine like headaches, musculoskeletal pain, Raynaud's phenomenon and dysautonomia. Symptoms started in 2000, with weakness that progressed to dystonia in 2003. Diagnostic work-up was inconclusive with negative inflammatory serologies, cerebrospinal fluid and MRI for many years. After patient developed sicca syndrome with dry eyes and mouth in 2009, her rheumatoid factor titre was elevated (550 IU/mL), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, anti-Sjogrens syndrome-related antigen A (anti-Ro/SSA) and anti-SSB/La: anti-Sjogrens syndrome-related antigen B (anti-La/SSB) became positive. Lip biopsy confirmed diagnosis of SS. She was diagnosed with primary SS with neurological involvement. Her symptoms responded well to intravenous methylprednisolone. Symptoms stabilised with trials of immune-suppressive therapy. This is a case that demonstrates the delay of diagnosing SS with preceding unique neurological association.