Surgical dental treatment prior to liver transplantation

ABSTRACT

Oral-source infections are a potential threat for transplant candidates because oral diseases tendto be more severe and untreated in people who have received transplants. Although not yetscientifically proven, evaluation and dental treatment during the pre-transplantation period isrecommended in order to prevent infections and resultant odontogenic-origin sepsis during thepost-transplant period, when patients receive immunosuppressive therapy. Aim: To evaluate theinvasive dental procedures for removing dental foci performed in patients scheduled for livertransplantation and its accompanying complications. Methods: The medical records of 33 prelivertransplant recipients who were undergoing invasive dental procedures were reviewed,including their laboratory tests, special handling needs and resulting complications. Results: Fiftyinvasive dental procedures were carried out on the 33 patients. Three of them were subjected tobasic periodontal treatment and 47 were subjected to multiple or simple extractions. Threesurgical procedures resulted in postoperative complications. Conclusions: Surgical interventionto remove dental foci in liver disease patients requires careful clinical evaluation, laboratory tests,knowledge and skills in the use of local and systemic hemostatic procedures, and a partnershipapproach between dentists and physicians, in order to reduce the risk of complications.