Identification of an effective and safe bolus dose and lockout time for patient-controlled sedation (PCS) using dexmedetomidine in dental treatments: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: This study investigated a safe and effective bolus dose and lockout time for patient-controlled sedation (PCS) with dexmedetomidine for dental treatments. The depth of sedation, vital signs, and patient satisfaction were investigated to demonstrate safety. Methods: Thirty patients requiring dental scaling were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups based on bolus doses and lockout times: group 1 (low dose group, bolus dose 0.05 µg/kg, 1-minute lockout time), group 2 (middle dose group, 0.1 µg/kg, 1-minute), and group 3 (high dose group, 0.2 µg/kg, 3-minute) (n = 10 each). ECG, pulse, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, end-tidal CO2, respiratory rate, and bispectral index scores (BIS) were measured and recorded. The study was conducted in two stages: the first involved sedation without dental treatment and the second included sedation with dental scaling. Patients were instructed to press the drug demand button every 10 s, and the process of falling asleep and waking up was repeated 1-5 times. In the second stage, during dental scaling, patients were instructed to press the drug demand button. Loss of responsiveness (LOR) was defined as failure to respond to auditory stimuli six times, determining sleep onset. Patient and dentist satisfaction were assessed before and after experimentation. Results: Thirty patients (22 males) participated in the study. Scaling was performed in 29 patients after excluding one who experienced dizziness during the first stage. The average number of drug administrations until first LOR was significantly lower in group 3 (2.8 times) than groups 1 and 2 (8.0 and 6.5 times, respectively). The time taken to reach the LOR showed no difference between groups. During the second stage, the average time required to reach the LOR during scaling was 583.4 seconds. The effect site concentrations (Ce) was significantly lower in group 1 than groups 2 and 3. In the participant survey on PCS, 8/10 in group 3 reported partial memory loss, whereas 17/20 in groups 1 and 2 recalled the procedure fully or partially. Conclusion: PCS with dexmedetomidine can provide a rapid onset of sedation, safe vital sign management, and minimal side effects, thus facilitating smooth dental sedation.

Patient-controlled sedation using remimazolam during third molar extraction: a case report.

Dental sedation plays a pivotal role in alleviating patient anxiety during various procedures. Remimazolam, a benzodiazepine derivative, stands out for its distinctive attributes, particularly its rapid onset of sedation coupled with a brief duration, making it an invaluable option for dental applications. The patient was admitted for the extraction of impacted third molars via patient-controlled sedation and not only demonstrated stable vital signs but also expressed a high level of satisfaction with the procedure. An in-depth analysis of plasma remimazolam concentrations and changes in the Patient State Index revealed negative correlation patterns, highlighting the inherent potential of remimazolam in achieving effective sedation. This expanded research scope aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of the pharmacological responses to remimazolam in dental sedation scenarios. This case report offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of dental sedation methodologies and paves the way for a more informed and evidence-based approach to the use of remimazolam in patient-controlled sedation.

Could Fixed Implants Be a Viable Treatment Option in Disabled Patients? A Clinical Retrospective Study.

PURPOSE: To verify the survival rates and marginal bone loss (MBL) of implants in patients with different disability types. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical and radiographic assessments were performed in a total of 189 implants for fixed implant prostheses in 72 patients. Data were collected on loaded implants at least 1 year in function, and the mean observation time was 37.3 months. Implant survival was examined, and MBL was observed around the implants of two groups (mental disability vs physical disability) based on age, sex, implant location (anterior vs posterior), and prosthetic connection (internal vs external). RESULTS: Of the 189 implants, 4 failed; the total implant survival rate was 97.8% across a mean of 37.3 months. The cumulative survival rate at 85 months in a Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis was 94.3% ± 3% in patients with mental disability and 50% ± 35.4% in patients with physical disability, which was a statistically significant difference between the disability groups (P = .006). Fisher exact test showed significant differences in MBL only with age (P < .001). The implant MBL by disability type-adjusted for age and observation period-showed significant differences in multiple linear regression analyses (P = .003). CONCLUSION: The implant survival rates in patients with disability were in line with those reported for nondisabled patients. The MBL of the implants was within the physiologic bone loss after implant loading. Implants in patients with mental disability showed higher cumulative survival rates than in patients with physical disability, but also a higher amount of MBL. Within the limitations of this study, dental implants for patients with disability are viable. These results can establish future implant treatment plans for this population. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 2023;38:562-568. doi: 10.11607/jomi.9880.

Analysis of the annual changes in dental institutions that claimed dental sedatives in Korea and the types of sedatives using health care big data.

Background: Dentists make various efforts to reduce patients' anxiety and fear associated with dental treatment. Dental sedation is an advanced method that dentists can perform to reduce patients' anxiety and fear and provide effective dental treatment. However, dental sedation is different from general dental treatment and requires separate learning, and if done incorrectly, can lead to serious complications. Therefore, sedation is performed by a limited number of dentists who have received specific training. This study aimed to investigate the proportion of dentists who practice sedation and the main sedatives they use in the context of the Republic of Korea. Methods: We used the customized health information data provided by the Korean National Health Insurance. We investigated the number of dental hospitals or clinics that claimed insurance for eight main sedatives commonly used in dental sedation from January, 2007 to September, 2019 at the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. We also identified the changes in the number of dental medical institutions by region and year and analyzed the number and proportion of dental medical institutions prescribing each sedative. Results: In 2007, 302 dental hospitals prescribed sedatives, and the number increased to 613 in 2019. In 2007, approximately 2.18% of the total 13,796 dental institutions prescribed sedatives, increasing to 3.31% in 2019. In 2007, 168 institutions (55.6%) prescribed N2O alone, and in 2019, 510 institutions (83.1%) made claims for it. In 2007, 76 (25.1%) hospitals made claims for chloral hydrate, but the number gradually decreased, with only 29 hospitals (4.7%) prescribing it in 2019. Hospitals that prescribed a combination of N2O, chloral hydrate, and hydroxyzine increased from 27 (8.9%) in 2007 to 51 (9%) in 2017 but decreased to 38 (6.1%) in 2019. The use of a combination of N2O and midazolam increased from 20 hospitals (6.6%) in 2007 to 51 hospitals (8.3%) in 2019. Conclusion: While there is a critical limitation to the investigation of dental hospitals performing sedation using insurance claims data, namely exclusion of dental clinics providing non-insured treatments, we found that in 2019, approximately 3.31% of the dental clinics were practicing sedation and that N2O was the most commonly prescribed sedative.

Air leakage due to the cuff hanging on the vocal cords during nasotracheal intubation: a case report.

Nasotracheal intubation is commonly performed under general anesthesia in oral and maxillofacial surgery. For the convenience of surgery, nasal Ring-Adair-Elwyn (RAE) tubes are mainly used. Because the nasal RAE tubes were bent in an "L" shape, the insertion depth was limited. Particularly, it is necessary to accurately determine the appropriate depth of the RAE tubes in children. Several types of nasal RAE tubes are used in the medical market, which vary in material and length. We performed endotracheal intubation using a nasal RAE tube for double-jaw surgery, but air leakage persisted even when the air pressure in the cuff was increased. When checked with a laryngoscope, it was confirmed that the tube was pushed out, and the cuff was caught on the vocal cords, causing air leakage. Since inserting the tube deeply did not solve the problem, replacing it with a nasal RAE tube (Polar™, Preformed Tracheal Tube, Smith Medical, Inc., USA) did not cause air leakage; thus, we reported this case.

Analysis of sedation and general anesthesia in patients with special needs in dentistry using the Korean healthcare big data.

Background: People with special needs tend to require diverse behavioral management in dentistry. They may feel anxious or uncomfortable or may not respond to any communication with the dentists. Patients with medical, physical, or psychological disorders may not cooperate and therefore require sedation (SED) or general anesthesia (GA) to receive dental treatment. Using the healthcare big data in Korea, this study aimed to analyze the trends of SED and GA in special needs patients undergoing dental treatment. It is believed that these data can be used as reference material for hospitals and for preparation of guidelines and related policy decisions of associations or governments for special needs patients in dentistry. Methods: The study used selected health information data provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Patients with a record of use of one of the eight selected drugs used in dental SED between January 2007 and September 2019, those with International Classification of Diseases-10 codes for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), phobia, brain disease, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, genetic disease, autism, mental disorder, mental retardation, and dementia were selected. The insurance claims data were analyzed for age, sex, sedative use, GA, year, and institution. Results: The number of special needs patients who received dental treatment under SED or GA from January 2007 to September 2019 was 116,623. Number of SED cases was 136,018, performed on 69,265 patients, and the number of GA cases was 56,308, implemented on 47,257 patients. In 2007, 3100 special needs patients received dental treatment under SED while in 2018 the number of cases increased 6 times to 18,528 SED cases. In dentistry, ADHD was the most common disability for SED cases while phobia was the most common cause of disability for GA. The male-to-female ratio with respect to SED cases was higher for males (M: F = 64.36% : 35.64%). Conclusion: The application of the SED method and GA for patients with special needs in dentistry is increasing rapidly; thus, preparing guidelines and reinforcing the education and system are necessary.

Analysis of changes and trends in the use of sedatives in dental sedation using data from the National Health Insurance in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Although dental sedation helps control anxiety and pain, side effects and serious complications related to sedation are gradually increasing. Due to the introduction of new drugs and sedation methods, insurance rates, legal regulations, drugs, and methods used for dental sedation are inevitably changed. In the Republic of Korea, National Health Insurance is applied to all citizens, and this study investigated changes in the use of sedatives using this big data. METHODS: This study used customized health information data provided by the Healthcare Insurance Review & Assessment Service of Korea. Among patients with a record of use of at least one of eight types of sedatives for dental sedation between January 2007 and September 2019 were selected; the data of their overall insurance claims for dental treatment were then analyzed. RESULTS: The number of patients who received dental sedation was 786,003, and the number of dental sedation cases was 1,649,688. Inhalational sedation using nitrous oxide (N2O) accounted for 86.8% of all sedatives that could be claimed for drugs and treatment. In particular, it was confirmed that the number of requests for sedation using N2O sharply increased each year. Midazolam showed an increasing trend, and in the case of chloral hydrate, it gradually decreased. CONCLUSION: According to our analysis, the use of N2O and midazolam gradually increased, while the use of chloral hydrate gradually decreased.

Analysis of behavioral management for dental treatment in patients with dementia using the Korean National Health Insurance data.

BACKGROUND: The global population is aging rapidly, and accordingly, the number of patients with dementia is increasing every year. Although the need for dental treatment increases for various reasons in patients with dementia, they cannot cooperate during dental treatment. Therefore, behavioral management, including sedation (SED) or general anesthesia (GA), is required for patients with dementia. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the trends and effects of SED or GA in patients with dementia undergoing dental treatment in South Korea based on the Korean National Health Insurance claims data. METHODS: This study utilized customized health information data provided by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Among patients with records of using sedative drugs during dental treatment from January 2007 to September 2019, patients with the International Classification of Diseases-10 code for dementia (F00, F01, F02, F03, and G30) were selected. We then analyzed the full insurance claims data for dental care. Age, sex, sedative use, and dental treatment of patients were analyzed yearly. In addition, the number of cases of GA or SED per year was analyzed, and changes in behavioral management methods with increasing age were investigated. RESULTS: Between January 2007 and September 2019, a total of 4,383 (male, 1,454; female, 2,929) patients with dementia received dental treatment under SED or GA. The total number of SED and GA cases were 1,515 (male, 528 ; female, 987 ) and 3,396 (male, 1,119 ; female, 2,277) cases, respectively. The total number of cases of dental treatment for 4,383 patients with dementia was 153,051 cases, of which 2.22% were under GA and 0.98% were under SED. Midazolam was the most commonly used drug for SED. CONCLUSION: Although gingivitis and pulpitis were the most common reasons for patients with dementia to visit the dentist, GA or SED for patients with dementia was frequently used in oral and maxillofacial or periodontal surgery.

An anesthetic management of head and neck cancer reconstructive surgery in a patient having hemophilia A: a case report.

Hemophilia A is a hemorrhagic disease caused by coagulation factor VIII deficiency. In head and neck cancer surgery, especially during a reconstructive one, complications can occur. These include hematomas due to bleeding which can then lead to flap ischemia, necrosis, and impaired wound healing. There are fewer cases of reconstructive surgery in patients with hemophilia A. Here in we report, a reconstructive surgery that involved mass resection, partial glossectomy (right), selective neck dissection (right, Levels I, II, III, IV), and reconstruction at the lateral arm free flap (left) in a 25-year-old man with hemophilia A. The surgery was successfully performed without any complications after pretreatment with Factor VIII concentrate, which has not been reported earlier.

Analysis of application of dental sedation in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients using the Korean National Health Insurance data.

BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development. It has a worldwide pooled prevalence of 5.29%. The characteristics of ADHD can increase the probability of dental treatment, while special behavior management can be required to allow proper treatment. In South Korea, the use of sedation in dental treatment has rapidly increased in recent decades. The present study aimed to investigate the trend and effects of sedation in patients with ADHD undergoing dental treatment in South Korea. METHODS: The study used customized health information data provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Among patients with the record of sedative use during the period from January 2007 to September 2019, those with International Classification of Diseases-10 codes for ADHD (F90, F91) were selected; the data of their overall insurance claims for dental treatment were then analyzed. The patients' age, gender, sedative use, and dental treatment were analyzed per year. The annual number of general anesthesia or sedation cases was also analyzed, and changes in the method of behavior management with increasing age were examined. RESULTS: The study involved 7,654 patients with ADHD (6,270 males; 1,384 females). The total number of dental treatments was 137,778, while the number of sedation cases was 16,109, among which 13,052 involved male patients and 3,057 female patients. The number of general anesthesia cases was 631, among which 538 involved male patients and 93 female patients. The most frequently used sedation method in the dental treatment of patients with ADHD was N2O inhalation. The percentage of sedation cases was highest in patients aged 4 years, and it decreased with increasing age. CONCLUSION: In South Korea, both sedation and dental treatments were slightly more common in patients with ADHD than in the general population. With increasing age, the frequency of dental treatments and the percentage of sedation cases decreased.

Predictors of Red Blood Cell Transfusion in Bimaxillary Orthognathic Surgery: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Orthognathic surgery requires red blood cell (RBC) transfusions more frequently than other oral and maxillofacial surgeries. The purpose of this study was to identify reliable predictors for RBC transfusion during bimaxillary orthognathic surgery (BOS). Methods: This retrospective study reviewed 1,616 electronic medical records of patients who underwent BOS during a 5-year period at Seoul National University Dental Hospital. The perioperative variable data were collected from electronic medical records and analyzed by dividing patients into the two groups (non-transfusion and transfusion group). Results: Of the 1,616 patients, 1,311 patients were excluded. The remaining 305 patients were divided into non-transfusion (NTF, n = 256) and transfusion (TF, n = 49) groups. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age, body mass index, the presence of several adjunctive surgeries (including genioplasty, extraction, and mandibular angle reduction), preoperative hemoglobin (Hb) and prothrombin time, surgical time, amount of fluid infusion and blood loss, and mean pulse rate during surgery were significant factors predicting RBC transfusion. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that preoperative Hb and blood loss amount during surgery were significantly related to RBC transfusion in BOS patients. Conclusion: Since blood loss amounts could not be measured preoperatively, we found that the independent predictor associated with RBC transfusion during BOS was a low preoperative Hb level.

Risk factors affecting the difficulty of fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation.

BACKGROUND: The success rate of intubation under direct laryngoscopy is greatly influenced by laryngoscopic grade using the Cormack-Lehane classification. However, it is not known whether grade under direct laryngoscopy can also affects the success rate of nasotracheal intubation using a fiberoptic bronchoscpe, so this study investigated the same. In addition, we investigated other factors that influence the success rate of fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation (FNI). METHODS: FNI was performed by 18 anesthesiology residents under general anesthesia in patients over 15 years of age who underwent elective oral and maxillofacial operations. In all patients, the Mallampati grade was measured. Laryngeal view grade under direct laryngoscopy, and the degree of secretion and bleeding in the oral cavity was measured and divided into 3 grades. The time required for successful FNI was measured. If the intubation time was > 5 minutes, it was evaluated as a failure and the airway was managed by another method. The failure rate was evaluated using appropriate statistical method. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC) were also measured. RESULTS: A total of 650 patients were included in the study, and the failure rate of FNI was 4.5%. The patient's sex, age, height, weight, Mallampati, and laryngoscopic view grade did not affect the success rate of FNI (P > 0.05). BMI, the number of FNI performed by residents (P = 0.03), secretion (P < 0.001), and bleeding (P < 0.001) grades influenced the success rate. The AUCs of bleeding and secretion were 0.864 and 0.798, respectively, but the AUC of BMI, the number of FNI performed by residents, Mallampati, and laryngoscopic view grade were 0.527, 0.616, 0.614, and 0.544, respectively. CONCLUSION: Unlike in intubation under direct laryngoscopy, in the case of FNI, oral secretion and nasal bleeding had a significant effect on FNI difficulty than Mallampati grade or Laryngeal view grade.

A novel technique of submandibular intubation with a camera cable drape: a case report.

Submental or submandibular intubation has been reported to cause fewer complications than tracheostomy. However, the risk of infection is always inherent because oral wounds are exposed to microbial flora and bacteria in the oral cavity. A novel technique of submandibular intubation was devised to reduce infection and injury to the soft tissues. We would like to report a novel safe technique that can be performed in patients requiring submental or submandibular intubation. This is the first report of submandibular intubation using a sterile disposable camera cable drape. This novel technique of submandibular intubation is safer, more sterile, easier, and less invasive than conventional submandibular intubation.

Postoperative residual neuromuscular blockade after reversal based on a qualitative peripheral nerve stimulator response: A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Incomplete recovery of neuromuscular blockade is a common postoperative adverse event in the postanaesthesia care unit. OBJECTIVE: We examined and compared the incidence of residual neuromuscular blockade when the recommended dose of neostigmine or sugammadex was administered according to a qualitative nerve stimulator response. DESIGN: A randomised controlled trial. SETTING: A tertiary care hospital in South Korea from September 2017 to November 2017. PATIENTS: Eighty patients aged between 18 and 69 years were included in this study. All were patients scheduled to undergo elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy and who had an American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical status of one or two were eligible. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were allocated randomly to receive neostigmine or sugammadex at the end of surgery. The doses of the reversal agents were based on the response to peripheral nerve stimulation, which was discontinued after administration of the reversal agent. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative residual neuromuscular blockade. The secondary outcomes were the incidences of symptoms or signs of residual neuromuscular blockade such as hypoxaemia, inability to maintain head-lift for 5 s and diplopia. RESULTS: The incidence of residual neuromuscular blockade on arrival in the recovery room was 44.4% in the neostigmine group and 0% in the sugammadex group (P < 0.0001, relative risk = 1.80, 95% confidence interval 1.36 to 2.41). The incidences of adverse events in the recovery room were low and comparable between the groups. CONCLUSION: The incidence of residual neuromuscular blockade on arrival in the recovery room was significantly higher in the neostigmine group than that in the sugammadex group. However, the incidence of adverse events was similar in the neostigmine and sugammadex groups. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03292965.

Treatment of severe pain in a patient with complex regional pain syndrome undergoing dental treatment under general anesthesia: A case report.

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is rare, characterized by pain from diverse causes, and presents as extreme pain even with minor irritation. General anesthesia may be required for dental treatment because the pain may not be controlled with local anesthesia. However, treatment under general anesthesia is also challenging. A 38-year-old woman with CRPS arrived for outpatient dental treatment under general anesthesia. At the fourth general anesthesia induction, she experienced severe pain resulting from her right toe touching the dental chair. Anesthesia was induced to calm her and continue the treatment. After 55 minutes of general anesthesia, the patient still complained of extreme toe pain. Subsequently, two administrations for intravenous sedation were performed, and discharge was possible in the recovery room approximately 5 h after the pain onset. The pain was not located at the dental treatment site. Although the major factor causing pain relief was unknown, ketamine may have played a role.

Effects site concentrations of propofol using target-controlled infusion in dental treatment under deep sedation among different intellectual disability types.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the dose needed to achieve the propofol effect-site concentration using target-controlled infusion in intellectually disabled patients and to detail the most effective method for achieving a safe level of consciousness without hemodynamic changes as well as detail any resulting adverse effects. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of sedation service records of 138 intellectually disabled patients (51, mental retardation; 36, autism; 30, brain lesion, 12 genetic diseases, 9 dementia) aged over 15 years and weighing over 30 kg. These patients had received propofol via target-controlled infusion in the special care dental clinic of Seoul National University Dental Hospital from May 2008 to September 2018 for restorative treatment (112), minor surgery (13), prosthodontics (7), periodontics treatment (5), and implant (1). RESULTS: For all groups, the duration of dental treatments was 43 ± 18 minutes, total sedation time was 73 ± 23 minutes, and total BIS values was 57 ± 12. The propofol maintenance dosage values for each group were: mental retardation, 3 ± 0.5 (2-4) µg/ml; autism, 3.1 ± 0.7 (2-5) µg/ml; brain lesion, 2.8 ± 0.7 (1.5-5) µg/ml; genetic disease, 2.9 ± 0.9 (1-4) µg/ml; and dementia 2.3 ± 0.7 (1-3.4) µg/ml. CONCLUSIONS: The dementia group needed a lower dosage to reach a safe, effective propofol effect-site concentration than the other groups. Since there were no complications, deep sedation is a great alternative to general anesthesia for dental treatment of intellectually disabled patients.

Multiple implant therapy with multiple inductions of general anesthesia in non-compliant patients with schizophrenia: A case report.

The effectiveness of dental implants in patients with disability, who are non-compliant during treatment, is controversial because of their poor oral health. Thus, oral health-care and management in such patients is concerning. Moreover, limited information is available on prognosis after implant placement. Herein, we describe a patient with schizophrenia who underwent dental implantation under multiple inductions of general anesthesia (5 times) and required conservative treatment and tooth extraction for multiple dental caries and retained roots because of inadequate oral health-care. Postoperatively, fracture of the prosthodontics and progression of dental caries were observed, and with 3 additional inductions of general anesthesia, conservative treatment, implant surgery, and prosthesis implantation were conducted. Postoperative 12-month follow-up since the last prosthesis implantation showed successful results. For patients with schizophrenia, multiple implantation can reduce horizontal bone loss and achieve aesthetic results compared to treatment with removable prosthodontics and could serve as an alternative treatment modality.

Effects of deep neuromuscular blockade on the stress response during laparoscopic gastrectomy Randomized controlled trials.

Maintaining deep neuromuscular block during surgery improves surgical space conditions. However, its effects on patient outcomes have not been well documented. We examined whether maintaining deep neuromuscular blockade during surgery could decrease the stress response compared to moderate neuromuscular blockade. Patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrectomy were randomly allocated to either the moderate (train-of-four counts of 1-2) or deep (post-tetanic counts of 1-2) neuromuscular blockade group. The primary outcome variable was the postoperative blood level of interleukin-6, and the secondary outcome variables were intraoperative or postoperative blood levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß, interleukin-8, and C-reactive protein. A total of 96 patients were recruited and 88 (44 in each group) were included in the analyses. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1ß measured at the end of surgery, interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 measured at 2 h postoperatively, and C-reactive protein measured at 48 h postoperatively were all significantly increased compared to the preoperative values, but there were no differences between the moderate and deep neuromuscular block groups. We found no differences in surgical stress response measured using determining levels of interleukin-6 and other mediators released between the moderate and deep neuromuscular blockade groups in patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrectomy.

Anaphylactic reaction after local lidocaine infiltration for retraction of retained teeth.

Although allergic reactions are not rare complications in drug use, anaphylaxis or anaphylactoid reactions to some widely used drugs can embarrass clinicians because anaphylaxis is not easily diagnosed at the time of the event and treatment is unfamiliar to many. Lidocaine is a very popular drug in dental procedures and anaphylactoid reaction to it has been rarely reported. Clinicians who use lidocaine daily should, however, be aware of the possibility of anaphylaxis after its use. Once it occurs, anaphylaxis can be fatal, but if it is quickly diagnosed or suspected, treatment is simpler than most clinicians believe. An 86-year-old woman experienced an anaphylactic reaction 30 min after local infiltration of lidocaine for retraction of retained teeth. The dentist called an anesthesiologist for assistance. Fortunately, an anaphylactic reaction was quickly suspected and after subsequent rapid treatment with the administration of fluid and drug therapy, the patient recovered completely.