A longitudinal study to evaluate the bleeding pattern of patients on low dose aspirin therapy following dental extraction.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Antiplatelet dugs are often interrupted preceding invasive dental extraction because of concern of bleeding complications. The fear of uncontrolled bleeding often prompts medical and dental practitioners to stop aspirin intake for 7 to 10 days before any surgical procedure, which puts the patient at risk from adverse thrombotic events. The aim of the study conducted was to evaluate the bleeding pattern after routine dental extraction among patients on low dose long term aspirin therapy. METHODS: A total of 104 subjects in the age group of 30-65 years, who continued to have aspirin intake during extraction were included in the study. Dental extraction was performed without stopping aspirin therapy under local anesthesia. The post-operative blood loss was quantified by weighing the gauze pre and post operatively and adding total volume of fluid in the suction jar. RESULTS: Of these 104 patients treated, 87% of patients had mild bleeding (<20 ml) and 13% of patients had moderate bleeding (20-30 ml). The total study population showed a mean blood loss of 16.15 ± 3.5 ml. CONCLUSION: Within in the limitations, our study concluded that the routine dental extraction in patients under low dose aspirin therapy did not cause clinically significant post extraction hemorrhage. Aspirin intake can be continued during routine dental extraction as post extraction bleeding encountered will be negligible.

Role of Serratiopeptidase and Dexamethasone in the Control of Postoperative Swelling.

AIM: The present study is designed to evaluate and compare the ability of serratiopeptidase and dexamethasone to control edema following the surgical removal of mandibular third molar. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two drugs, dexamethasone and serratiopeptidase, were compared for its efficacy in reducing the postoperative swelling. A total of 100 patients requiring the surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar were randomly divided into two groups, consisting of 50 patients each. One group was administered 1 mg dexamethasone, one-half h preoperatively and every 8th hourly for 3 days postoperatively. The other group was given 10 mg serratiopeptidase every 8th hourly for 3 days postoperatively. The swelling was measured on 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 7th postoperative days. The results of this study showed that serratiopeptidase was effective in reducing swelling from 2nd to 5th postoperative day, and dexamethasone was effective in reducing swelling from 1st to 2nd postoperative day, further, it also reduced the swelling from 2nd to 5th postoperative day. RESULTS: There was highly significant difference in the facial measurement between serratiopeptidase and dexamethasone group on postoperative day 2 (the mean difference was 62.5 with P < 0.001) and statistically significant difference on postoperative day 1, day 5, and day 7 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that serratiopeptidase, a proteolytic enzyme and dexamethasone, a long-acting corticosteroid was effective in reducing the swelling, but dexamethasone was more effective than serratiopeptidase in reducing the swelling.

Postoperative pain, edema and trismus following third molar surgery - A comparitive study between submucosal and intravenous dexamethasone.

BACKGROUND: Third molar surgey always needs primary intervention as it can lead to various complications and pathologies. Considering other ways for postoperative anesthesia it was infered that submucosal group which showed simple injection technique and direct surgical site administration is more beneficial. It was noticed as a patient comfort method which can be the preferred as the drug of choice over intravenous route of dexamethasone injection. INTRODUCTION: Impaction of third molar is a common affliction and surgical removal is the only treatment option. The post-operative sequelae following the third molar surgery are pain, edema and trismus. The use of corticosteroids is to counteract it via various routes. Still, controversy exists in the literature regarding the administration of corticosteroids over the routes and time of administration. The purpose of this study was to compare the postoperative pain, edema and trismus following third molar surgery while using preoperative intravenous and submucosal routes of dexamethasone, in terms of pain, facial swelling, and trismus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study consisted of 64 patients presented with mesioangular impacted mandibular third molar for surgical removal. Preoperative measurements of edema, trismus were analyzed. Postoperative pain was estimated using visual analogue scale. Edema was assessed by the extra oral facial measurements. Trismus was measured by recording the interincisal opening in millimeters. Dexamethasone was administered intravenously or submucosally according to the choice of operating surgeon and were divided into 2 groups. RESULTS: Mean and standard deviation calculated for continuous variables. Changes in parameters was analysed using t test and Mann-Whitney U test. Here, submucosal group were reported with increased pain on the second postoperative day. On seventh postoperative day mean value turns to 0.7 ± 1 for submucosal and 0.6 ± 1.2 for intravenous group. On overall observation, intravenous group expressed statistically significant (P < 0.01) reduction in pain compared to the submucosal group during immediate and second postoperative days. CONCLUSION: Analyzing the previous studies, and from the experience of the present one, it could be reasonably found out that administration of submucosal dexamethasone is beneficial for overall patient compliance.

Effect of submucosal injection of dexamethasone on postoperative discomfort after third molar surgery: a prospective study.

AIM: To evaluate the relative ability of 4 mg dose of intraoperative dexamethasone, administered submucosally, to reduce the postoperative discomfort after third molar surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients requiring surgical removal of a single mandibular third molar were included. The experimental group (50) received dexamethasone 4 mg as submucosal injection and control group (50) received no drugs. The maximum interincisal distance and facial contours were measured at baseline and at postsurgery days 2 and 7. The measurement of pain was done using visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: None of the patients developed wound infection or any serious postoperative complications. Postoperative edema tended to be less severe on the second postoperative day in the experimental group and the result was statistically significant. There were no significant differences in the reduction of pain and trismus between the two groups studied. CONCLUSION: Submucosal administration of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (4 mg) results in reduction of postoperative edema, comparable with or greater than other routes of administration. Presumably, a higher effective drug concentration at the site of injury without loss due to distribution to other compartments may be achieved, and the submucosal route is convenient for both the surgeon and the patient. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Submucosal route of administration of dexamethasone (4 mg) is effective in reducing postoperative discomfort after third molar surgeries.

A double blind study on the efficacy of local application of hemocoagulase solution in wound healing.

AIM: The present double blind study has been designed to evaluate the efficacy of local application of hemocoagulase solution as compared to a placebo in wound healing following dental extraction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 patients who required dental extraction for orthodontic intervention were included. The hemocoagulase solution and a placebo were locally applied to the extraction sockets and the efficacy of the solution in terms of bleeding control, anti-inflammatory responses, its antiseptic properties and efficacy in wound healing were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean time required to achieve hemostasis was found to be 1.37 minutes in side A (test) and 2.33 minutes in side B (control) indicating that side A achieved faster hemostasis when compared to side B. At the 6th hour postoperatively, bleeding was not evident on either sides, and the amount of pain in side A was found to be less compared to side B. The number of RBCs, polymorphs, chronic inflammatory cells were not different in both the groups, whereas at 3rd postoperative day epithelial cells were greater in side A (test) compared to side B (control). Biopsy reports on the 12th postoperative day indicated that the number of fibroblasts, epithelial cells, collagen count was found to be greater in side A (test) compared to side B (control). CONCLUSION: The topical hemocoagulase solution may be advocated in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery, as a hemostatic agent and promoter of wound healing. However, further studies, with large number of cases and different clinical situations should be considered to authenticate the efficacy of this hemocoagulase solution in the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Wound healing plays an important role in the success of any surgical procedure, such as extractions, and the hemocoagulase system may act as a hemostatic agent and a promoter of wound healing.