Delayed awakening time from general anesthesia for dental treatment of patients with disabilities

Background@#Patients with disabilities often require general anesthesia for dental treatment because of their cooperative or physical problems. Since most patients with disabilities take central nervous system drugs, the management of recovery status is important because of drug interactions with anesthetics. @*Methods@#The anesthesia records of patients under general anesthesia for dental treatment were reviewed, and data were collected. Healthy patients under general anesthesia for dental phobia or severe gagging reflex were designated as the control group. Patients with disabilities were divided into two groups: those not taking any medication and those taking antiepileptic medications. The awakening time was evaluated in 354 patients who underwent dental treatment under general anesthesia (92 healthy patients, 183 patients with disabilities, and 79 patients with disabilities taking an antiepileptic drug). Based on the data recorded in anesthesia records, the awakening time was calculated, and statistical processes were used to determine the factors affecting awakening time. @*Results@#Significant differences in awakening time were found among the three groups. The awakening time from anesthesia in patients with disabilities (13.09 ± 5.83 min) (P < 0.0001) and patients taking antiepileptic drugs (18.18 ± 7.81 min) (P < 0.0001) were significantly longer than in healthy patients (10.29 ± 4.87 min). @*Conclusion@#The awakening time from general anesthesia is affected by the disability status and use of antiepileptic drugs.

Application of sevoflurane inhalation sedation in dental treatment: a mini review

Sevoflurane is familiar to anesthesiologists as an inhaled anesthetic to induce and maintain anesthesia; however, it has not been widely used for sedation. Recently, the use of sevoflurane for inhalational sedation has been increasing. Moreover, in Korea, the use of sevoflurane for conscious or deep sedation in dental care for children and the disabled is increasing, primarily by dental anesthesiologists. In this article, we reviewed a sedation method using sevoflurane.

Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia during outpatient anesthesia: a case report

During the perioperative period, anesthesiologists frequently observe cardiac tachyarrhythmia. Ventricular tachycardia is very rare in non-cardiac surgeries. However, it can be fatal when it occurs. Therefore, anesthesiologists should be watchful so as to not to miss ventricular tachycardia and take the appropriate steps to manage it promptly. We present a case, with a review of related literature, in which a non-sustained ventricular tachycardia was observed in a patient who visited the hospital for dental treatment.

Delayed awakening time from general anesthesia for dental treatment of patients with disabilities

Background@#Patients with disabilities often require general anesthesia for dental treatment because of their cooperative or physical problems. Since most patients with disabilities take central nervous system drugs, the management of recovery status is important because of drug interactions with anesthetics. @*Methods@#The anesthesia records of patients under general anesthesia for dental treatment were reviewed, and data were collected. Healthy patients under general anesthesia for dental phobia or severe gagging reflex were designated as the control group. Patients with disabilities were divided into two groups: those not taking any medication and those taking antiepileptic medications. The awakening time was evaluated in 354 patients who underwent dental treatment under general anesthesia (92 healthy patients, 183 patients with disabilities, and 79 patients with disabilities taking an antiepileptic drug). Based on the data recorded in anesthesia records, the awakening time was calculated, and statistical processes were used to determine the factors affecting awakening time. @*Results@#Significant differences in awakening time were found among the three groups. The awakening time from anesthesia in patients with disabilities (13.09 ± 5.83 min) (P < 0.0001) and patients taking antiepileptic drugs (18.18 ± 7.81 min) (P < 0.0001) were significantly longer than in healthy patients (10.29 ± 4.87 min). @*Conclusion@#The awakening time from general anesthesia is affected by the disability status and use of antiepileptic drugs.

Application of sevoflurane inhalation sedation in dental treatment: a mini review

Sevoflurane is familiar to anesthesiologists as an inhaled anesthetic to induce and maintain anesthesia; however, it has not been widely used for sedation. Recently, the use of sevoflurane for inhalational sedation has been increasing. Moreover, in Korea, the use of sevoflurane for conscious or deep sedation in dental care for children and the disabled is increasing, primarily by dental anesthesiologists. In this article, we reviewed a sedation method using sevoflurane.

Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia during outpatient anesthesia: a case report

During the perioperative period, anesthesiologists frequently observe cardiac tachyarrhythmia. Ventricular tachycardia is very rare in non-cardiac surgeries. However, it can be fatal when it occurs. Therefore, anesthesiologists should be watchful so as to not to miss ventricular tachycardia and take the appropriate steps to manage it promptly. We present a case, with a review of related literature, in which a non-sustained ventricular tachycardia was observed in a patient who visited the hospital for dental treatment.

Difficult intubation caused by an immature upper airway in a patient with cri-du-chat syndrome: a case report

Cri-du-chat syndrome (CdCS) is caused by the deletion of the short arm of chromosome 5. Most patients with CdCS develop intellectual disabilities. Therefore, they have poor oral hygiene and a high caries index. However, treating such patients is not an easy task, because of the difficulty in communication. General anesthesia may be a useful option in adult patients with CdCS and intellectual disability. General anesthesia should be administered very carefully, owing to the presence of comorbid diseases, which may need airway management. Infants with CdCS need general anesthesia if they have a concomitant cardiac anomaly. Intubation is reportedly difficult for such patients was, owing to the structural and functional abnormalities in the larynx and vocal cords. The purpose of this study was to report a case of difficult intubation while inducing general anesthesia in a patient with CdCS during dental treatment, due to a narrow larynx and trachea.

Airway management during general anesthesia in an intellectually disabled patient with undiagnosed tracheomalacia

In cases of intellectually disabled patients, there is sometimes difficult to obtain sufficient information due to the intellectual disorder, even though the patient has significant medical problems. Herein, we report a case of decreased oxygen saturation and inadequate air exchange during general anesthesia in an intellectually disabled patient. We also describe the subsequent management, including the diagnosis of tracheomalacia (TM) using bronchoscopy, and the management of airway compromise with manual and/or controlled respiration, which led to the prevention of complications.

Blood Gas Analysis of Respiratory Depression during Sevoflurane Inhalation Induction for General Anesthesia in the Disabled Patients / 대한소아치과학회지

Tidal volume by sevoflurane in small amounts is stable due to the increase in the breathing rate. But alveolus ventilation decreases due to sevoflurane as the degree of sedation increases; this ultimately causes PaCO2 to rise. The occurrence of suppression of breath increases the risk of severe hypoxia and hypercapnia in deeply sedated patients with disabilities. Sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia has a number of risks and may have unexpected problems with hemodynamic changes depending on the underlying state of the body. This study was conducted to examine the stability of internal acid-base system caused by respiratory depression occurring when patients with disabilities are induced by sevoflurane.Anesthetic induction was carried out by placing a mask on top of the patient's face and through voluntary breathing with 4 vol% of sevoflurane, 4 L/min of nitrous oxide, and 4 L/min of oxygen. After the patient's loss of consciousness and muscle relaxation, IV line was inserted by an expert and intravenous blood gas was analyzed by extracting blood from vein.In a deeply sedated state, the average amount of pH of the entire patients was measured as 7.36 ± 0.06. The average amount of PvCO₂ of the entire patients was measured as 48.8 ± 8.50 mmHg. The average amount of HCO₃₋ of the entire patients was measured as 27.2 ± 3.0 mmol/L.In conclusion, in dental treatment of patients with disabilities, the internal acid base response to inhalation sedation using sevoflurane is relatively stable.

Dental treatment in patients with severe gag reflex using propofol-remifentanil intravenous sedation

Patients with severe gag reflex (SGR) have difficulty getting the treatment they require in local clinics, and many tend to postpone the start of their treatment. To address this problem, dentists have used behavioral techniques and/or pharmacological techniques for treatment. Among the pharmacological methods available, propofol IV sedation is preferred over general anesthesia because it is a simpler procedure. Propofol in combination with remifentanil is characterized by stable sedative effects and quick recovery, leading to a deep sedation. Remifentanil acts to reduce the pain caused by lipid-soluble propofol on injection. The synergistic effects of propofol-remifentanil include reduction in the total amount of drug required to achieve a desired sedation level and anti-emetic effects. In this case report, we outline how the use of propofol-remifentanil IV sedation enabled us to successfully complete a wide range of dental treatments in a patient with SGR.

Pulseless electrical activity during general anesthesia induction in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Pulseless electrical activity (PEA) is a clinical condition characterized by unresponsiveness and lack of palpable pulse in the presence of organized cardiac electrical activity and is caused by a profound cardiovascular insult (e.g., severe prolonged hypoxia or acidosis, extreme hypovolemia, or flow-restricting pulmonary embolus). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease that is characterized by progressive degeneration of all levels of the motor nervous system. Damage to the respiratory system and weakness of the muscles may increase the likelihood of an emergency situation occurring in patients with ALS while under general anesthesia. We report a case of PEA during the induction of general anesthesia in a patient with ALS who presented for dental treatment and discuss the causes of PEA and necessary considerations for general anesthesia in patients with ALS.

Developmental procedures for the clinical practice guidelines for conscious sedation in dentistry for the Korean Academy of Dental Sciences

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are defined as “statements that are scientifically reviewed about evidence and systematically developed to assist in the doctors' and patients' decision making in certain clinical situations.” This recommendation aims to promote good clinical practice for the provision of safe and effective practices of conscious sedation in dentistry. METHODS: The development of this clinical practice guideline was conducted by performing a systematic search of the literature for evidence-based CPGs. Existing guidelines, relevant systematic reviews, policy documents, legislation, or other recommendations were reviewed and appraised. To supplement this information, key questions were formulated by the Guideline Development Group and used as the basis for designing systematic literature search strategies to identify literature that may address these questions. Guideline documents were evaluated through a review of domestic and international databases for the development of a renewing of existing conscious sedation guidelines for dentistry. Clinical practice guidelines were critically appraised for their methodologies using Appraisal of guidelines for research and evaluation (AGREE) II. RESULTS: A total of 12 existing CPGs were included and 13 recommendations were made in a range of general, adult, and pediatric areas. CONCLUSION: The clinical practice guidelines for conscious sedation will be reviewed in 5 years' time for further updates to reflect significant changes in the field.

Survey of the sevoflurane sedation status in one provincial dental clinic center for the disabled

BACKGROUND: Sevoflurane sedation in pediatric and disabled patients has the advantage of faster induction and recovery compared to general anesthesia, as well as minimum influence on the respiratory and cardiovascular functions, and airway protective reflexes. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of sevoflurane sedation used in dental treatment at one provincial dental clinic center for the disabled. METHODS: We investigated patients' gender, age, reasons for undergoing sedation, medication history prior to treatment, duration of anesthesia, treatment length, type of treatment, and yearly patterns, for 387 cases of dental treatment performed using sevoflurane sedation from January 2013 to October 2016. RESULTS: We analyzed 387 cases (215 male patients, 172 female patients). Male patients aged 20 year or older accounted for 39.0% of all patients, marking the highest proportion. Patient's lack of cooperation was the most common reason for performing dental sedation. Prosthetic treatment was the most frequently practiced, accounting for 174 treatment cases. The mean lengths of the entire treatment and of the dental procedure were 55.2 min and 39.8 min, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Sevoflurane sedation has the advantage of fast anesthesia induction and recovery compared to general anesthesia; therefore, it can be used efficiently to induce anesthesia in pediatric and disabled patients during short dental procedures, enabling stable treatment of these patients.

A survey of the intravenous sedation status in one provincial dental clinic center for the disabled in Korea

BACKGROUND: The objective of the present study was to examine the status of patients who had received dental treatment under intravenous (IV) sedation at Chungnam Dental Clinic for the Disabled in Korea from its inception to the present time, and to review the analysis results. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed on 305 cases of patients who had received dental treatments under IV sedation between January 2011 and May 2016. The analysis examined the patient's sex, age, primary reason for IV sedation, duration of anesthesia and dental treatment, type of dental treatment performed, number of clinical departments involved in the dental treatment and level of multidisciplinary cooperation, and annual trends. RESULTS: Most dental treatments using intravenous sedation were performed on medically disabled patients or dentally disabled patients with an extreme gag reflex or dental phobia. The mean duration of IV sedation was 72.5 min, while the mean duration of treatment was 58.0 min. The types of dental treatments included surgical treatment (n = 209), periodontal treatment (n = 28), prosthodontic treatment (n = 28), restorative treatment (n = 23), implant surgery (n = 22), endodontic treatment (n = 9), reduction of temporomandibular joint dislocation (n = 1), and treatment of traumatic injuries (n = 1), with treatments mostly performed on adult patients. CONCLUSIONS: With increasing demand for minimally painful treatment, cases using IV sedation are on an upward trend and are expected to continue to increase.

A survey of the intravenous sedation status in one provincial dental clinic center for the disabled in Korea

BACKGROUND: The objective of the present study was to examine the status of patients who had received dental treatment under intravenous (IV) sedation at Chungnam Dental Clinic for the Disabled in Korea from its inception to the present time, and to review the analysis results. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed on 305 cases of patients who had received dental treatments under IV sedation between January 2011 and May 2016. The analysis examined the patient's sex, age, primary reason for IV sedation, duration of anesthesia and dental treatment, type of dental treatment performed, number of clinical departments involved in the dental treatment and level of multidisciplinary cooperation, and annual trends. RESULTS: Most dental treatments using intravenous sedation were performed on medically disabled patients or dentally disabled patients with an extreme gag reflex or dental phobia. The mean duration of IV sedation was 72.5 min, while the mean duration of treatment was 58.0 min. The types of dental treatments included surgical treatment (n = 209), periodontal treatment (n = 28), prosthodontic treatment (n = 28), restorative treatment (n = 23), implant surgery (n = 22), endodontic treatment (n = 9), reduction of temporomandibular joint dislocation (n = 1), and treatment of traumatic injuries (n = 1), with treatments mostly performed on adult patients. CONCLUSIONS: With increasing demand for minimally painful treatment, cases using IV sedation are on an upward trend and are expected to continue to increase.

Intranasal administration of dexmedetomidine (DEX) as a premedication for pediatric patients undergoing general anesthesia for dental treatment

BACKGROUND: The most important reason for pre-operative administration of medication is to reduce anxiety. Alleviation of fear and anxiety about surgery enables patients to remain comfortable during treatment. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a fast-acting drug that is used as a premedication in different circumstances because it has sedative and anti-anxiolytic effects, and stable hemodynamics. It also has the advantage of intranasal administration. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and hemodynamic stability of DEX by retrospectively analyzing cases in which DEX was administered nasally as a premedication. METHODS: Ten patients treated at Dankook University Dental Hospital, recruited between February and April 2015, received intranasal delivery of 2 µg/kg DEX, 30 minutes prior to general anesthesia. Anesthesia records of anxiety, blood pressure, respiration, pulse, estimated arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2), and partial pressure, or maximum concentration, of carbon dioxide (ETCO2) were analyzed. RESULTS: Administration of DEX prior to a general anesthetic effectively relieved anxiety. Respiratory depression, the most severe adverse effect of other sedatives, was not observed. Hemodynamic stability under general anesthesia was maintained during treatment and a reduction in emergence delirium was observed upon completion of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Premedication administration of DEX is safe for pediatric patients undergoing dental treatment under general anesthesia.

Study on the trends in Korean clinical practice guidelines development

BACKGROUND: The definition of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) is "statements that are systematically developed to assist in the doctors' and patients' decision-making in certain situations." This study aims to establish the concept of evidence-based CPGs and investigate the development status to seek measures to apply evidence-based methods to CPG development for dental sedation in Korea. METHODS: The study conducted systematic searching methods based on evidence-based CPGs. Articles published between 1995 to 2015 were searched on a Korean database and the international database PubMed. The search was based on keywords related to four subjects (dentistry, clinical practice, guideline, recommendation). Two authors independently reviewed the searched articles to determine their analysis inclusion and the convergence stages, and to arrive at a conclusion through discussion. RESULTS: A total of 65 Korean CPGs were included. There were 51 medical guidelines, of which seven were dental and seven were Oriental medicine. CONCLUSIONS: As a basic direction for the development of evidence-based CPGs, this work suggests the following: increased awareness; consensus on the need to supply evidence-based development methods; education, computerization, and systematic observation of evidence-based CPG development methods; continuous research development and distribution of CPGs; and creation of a database for Korean clinical dentistry practice outcomes.

The use of laryngeal mask airway in dental treatment during sevoflurane deep sedation

BACKGROUND: General anesthesia is frequently considered for pediatric patients, as they often find it difficult to cooperate and stay calm during administration of potentially painful treatments. Sedation can overcome these adversities; however, this is challenging while maintaining unobstructed airways. METHODS: The study involved 11 pediatric dental patients treated with LMA under deep sedation with sevoflurane, from 2011 through 2015. LMA size, sevoflurane concentration, and the vital signs of patients were assessed through a chart review. RESULTS: The age distribution of the patients ranged from 6 to 10 years old. A total of 3 patients underwent mesiodens extraction, while the remaining 8 underwent an surgically assisted orthodontic forced tooth eruption The average sedation period was approximately 45 minutes and the LMA size was 2½. The sevoflurane concentration was maintained at 2% on average, and overall, the measurements of vital signs were within the normal range; the patients had an average blood pressure of 98/49 mmHg, breathing rate of 26 times/min, pulse frequency of 95 times/min, SpO2s level of 99 mmHg, and ETCO2 level of 41.2 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: Deep sedation with sevoflurane coupled with LMA may be applied successfully in pediatric patients who undergo mesiodens extraction or a surgically assisted orthodontic forced tooth eruption.

A survey of dental treatment under general anesthesia in a Korean university hospital pediatric dental clinic

BACKGROUND: In South Korea, the number of cases of dental treatment for the disabled is gradually increasing, primarily at regional dental clinics for the disabled. This study investigated pediatric patients at a treatment clinic for the disabled within a university hospital who received dental treatment under general anesthesia. This data could assist those that provide dental treatment for the disabled and guide future treatment directions and new policies. METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of 263 cases in which patients received dental treatment under general anesthesia from January 2011 to May 2016. The variables examined were gender, age, reason for anesthesia, type of disability, time under anesthesia, duration of treatment, type of procedure, treatment details, and annual trends in the use of general anesthesia. RESULTS: Among pediatric patients with disabilities who received dental treatment under general anesthesia, the most prevalent age group was 5–8 years old (124 patients, 47.1%), and the primary reason for administering anesthesia was dental anxiety or phobia. The mean time under anesthesia was 132.7 ± 77.6 min, and the mean duration of treatment was 101.9 ± 71.2 min. The most common type of treatment was restoration, accounting for 158 of the 380 treatments performed. CONCLUSIONS: Due to increasing demand, the number of cases of dental treatment performed under general anesthesia is expected to continue increasing, and it can be a useful method of treatment in patients with dental anxiety or phobia.

Full mouth rehabilitation of a patient with Sturge-Weber syndrome using a mixture of general and sedative anesthesia

Issues related to the control of seizures and bleeding, as well as behavioral management due to mental retardation, render dental treatment less accessible or impossible for patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS). A 41-year-old man with SWS visited a dental clinic for rehabilitation of missing dentition. A bilateral port-wine facial nevus and intraoral hemangiomatous swollen lesion of the left maxillary and mandibular gingivae, mucosa, and lips were noted. The patient exhibited extreme anxiety immediately after injection of a local anesthetic and required various dental treatments to be performed over multiple visits. Therefore, full-mouth rehabilitation over two visits with general anesthesia and two visits with target-controlled intravenous infusion of a sedative anesthesia were planned. Despite concerns regarding seizure control, bleeding control, and airway management, no specific complications occurred during the treatments, and the patient was satisfied with the results.