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.

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.

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.

Total joint reconstruction using computer-assisted surgery with stock prostheses for a patient with bilateral TMJ ankylosis.

BACKGROUNDS: The purpose of this study is to discuss the total joint reconstruction surgery for a patient with recurrent ankylosis in bilateral temporomandibular joints (TMJs) using three-dimensional (3D) virtual surgical planning, computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM)-fabricated surgical guides, and stock TMJ prostheses. CASE PRESENTATION: A 66-year-old female patient, who had a history of multiple TMJ surgeries, complained of severe difficulty in eating and trismus. The 3D virtual surgery was performed with a virtual surgery software (FACEGIDE, MegaGen implant, Daegu, South Korea). After confirmation of the location of the upper margin for resection of the root of the zygoma and the lower margin for resection of the ankylosed condyle, and the position of the fossa and condyle components of stock TMJ prosthesis (Biomet, Jacksonville, FL, USA), the surgical guides were fabricated with CAD/CAM technology. Under general anesthesia, osteotomy and placement of the stock TMJ prosthesis (Biomet) were carried out according to the surgical planning. At 2 months after the operation, the patient was able to open her mouth up to 30 mm without complication. CONCLUSION: For a patient who has recurrent ankylosis in bilateral TMJs, total joint reconstruction surgery using 3D virtual surgical planning, CAD/CAM-fabricated surgical guides, and stock TMJ prostheses may be an effective surgical treatment option.

Lipid emulsion therapy of local anesthetic systemic toxicity due to dental anesthesia.

Local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) refers to the complication affecting the central nervous system (CNS) and cardiovascular system (CVS) due to the overdose of local anesthesia. Its reported prevalence is 0.27/1000, and the representative symptoms range from dizziness to unconsciousness in the CNS and from arrhythmias to cardiac arrest in the CVS. Predisposing factors of LAST include extremes of age, pregnancy, renal disease, cardiac disease, hepatic dysfunction, and drug-associated factors. To prevent the LAST, it is necessary to recognize the risk factors for each patient, choose a safe drug and dose of local anesthesia, use vasoconstrictor , confirm aspiration and use incremental injection techniques. According to the treatment guidelines for LAST, immediate application of lipid emulsion plays an important role. Although lipid emulsion is commonly used for parenteral nutrition, it has recently been widely used as a non-specific antidote for various types of drug toxicity, such as LAST treatment. According to the recently published guidelines, 20% lipid emulsion is to be intravenously injected at 1.5 mL/kg. After bolus injection, 15 mL/kg/h of lipid emulsion is to be continuously injected for LAST. However, caution must be observed for >1000 mL of injection, which is the maximum dose. We reviewed the incidence, mechanism, prevention, and treatment guidelines, and a serious complication of LAST occurring due to dental anesthesia. Furthermore, we introduced lipid emulsion that has recently been in the spotlight as the therapeutic strategy for LAST.

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.

Enucleation of large keratocystic odontogenic tumor at mandible via unilateral sagittal split osteotomy: a report of three cases.

Keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT) is a common benign tumor of osseous lesions in dental and maxillofacial practice. We describe three cases of large KCOT located in the posterior part of the mandible extending to the angle and ramus region, which were enucleated via sagittal split osteotomy (SSO) of the mandible. There are cases in which a conventional enucleation procedure does not ensure complete excision of the entire lesion without damage to vital structures like the inferior alveolar nerve. In such cases, a SSO approach could be a better choice than conventional methods. The purpose of this article is to describe our experience using unilateral mandibular SSO for removal of a KCOT from the mandible.

Effectiveness of Computed Tomography for Blow-out Fracture.

PURPOSE: This study assessed the association between eye symptoms (enophthalmos or diplopia) and site of damage, volume, deviated inferior rectus muscle (IRM) and type of fracture with computed tomography (CT). The intent is to anticipate the prognosis of orbital trauma at initial diagnosis. METHODS: Forty-five patients were diagnosed with fractures of the inferior wall of one orbit. Fracture area, volume of displaced tissue, deviated IRM, and type of fracture were evaluated from coronal CT by one investigator. The association of those variables with the occurrence of eye symptoms (diplopia and enophthalmos) was assessed. RESULTS: Of 45 patients, 27 were symptom-free (Group A) and 18 had symptoms (Group B) of enophthalmos and/or diplopia. In Group B, 12 had diplopia, one was enophthalmos, and five had both. By CT measurement, group A mean area was 192.6 mm(2) and the mean volume was 673.2 mm(3). Group B area was 316.2 mm(2) and volume was 1,710.6 mm(3). The volume was more influential on symptom occurrence. Each patient was categorized into four grades depending on the location of IRM. Symptom occurrence and higher grade were associated. Twenty-six patients had trap-door fracture (one side, attached to the fracture), and 19 had punched-out fracture (both sides detached). The punched-out fracture was more strongly associated with symptoms and had statistically significantly higher area and volume. CONCLUSION: In orbital trauma, measurement of fracture area and volume, evaluation of the deviated IRM and classification of the fracture type by coronal CT can effectively predict prognosis and surgical indication.