ABSTRACT
Objectives: The study aimed at evaluating orthodontics and dental emergencies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: An online-questionnaire survey was developed using google form and sent to orthodontists and dental surgeons in Nepal, practicing during the pandemic. Responses were collected and statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 16.0. Result: It was seen that the most frequently encountered orthodontic emergencies were due to, loose brackets (60%) and poking wires (47.6%) followed by loose bands (31.4%) and debonded loose buccal tubes (30.5%). Most frequently reported dental emergencies were broken or loose removable prosthesis and broken or loose crowns and/or bridges (13.3%) followed by bleeding while brushing (41.9%), swelling due to periodontal origin (33.1%), and severe pain due to tooth decay (44.8%). Conclusion: Loosening of brackets and poking wires were the most frequently reported orthodontic emergencies while, broken or loose prosthesis were reported commonly during the pandemic. © 2022 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
ABSTRACT
In response to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, wearing face masks in public places and common facilities has been strongly recommended to help prevent the further spread of the virus. However, conductive components of the face mask carry the potential risk of radio-frequency (RF)-induced heating when exposed to an RF electromagnetic field, particularly during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this study, a realistic human head model wearing a face mask exposed to a strong RF electromagnetic field in 1.5 T, 3 T, and 7 T MRI was simulated. A nose wire in contact with the skin and a mask sheet with relatively high electrical conductivity, emulating a silver nanoparticle-coated face mask, was modeled to investigate the worst case of RF-induced heating that could occur during the MRI scan. 24 scenarios were simulated by using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD)-based electromagnetic solver and thermal-transient solver from Sim4Life commercial simulation software. According to the results, a notable enhancement in the specific absorption rate (SAR) and temperature rise was observed in the local region of the skin where the wire contacted the skin around the edge of the high-conductive mask sheet. In particular, a maximum of a 12-fold increase in mass-averaged SAR and a temperature increase of more than 8.0 degrees C occurred because of the conductive face mask at 3 T, compared to the normal polymer-based face mask with low conductivity. Our results confirmed that the degree of RF-induced heating due to the face mask could be completely different depending on the RF frequency of the MRI, location where the nose wire contacted the skin, and conductivity of the mask sheet. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the face mask as a factor for RF-induced heating during MRI. These findings are important for providing a safety guide that allows patients to safely undergo MRI while wearing a face mask during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Temporary epicardial pacing wires are used after cardiothoracic surgery to maintain a stable cardiac rhythm. They must be distinguished from the more commonly encountered transvenous temporary pacing wires, which are often used in coronary care units for the same purpose. Patients with temporary epicardial pacing wires may be transferred to hospital wards where these wires are not usually encountered, such as COVID wards, the general intensive care unit, the coronary care unit or general surgical wards if a laparotomy was required in the early period following cardiac surgery. Serious complications may arise in managing patients with temporary epicardial pacing wires, which are well known in the cardiothoracic unit but not so well known elsewhere in the hospital. This article discusses the dangers associated with the management of temporary epicardial pacing wires in adult patients, some of which are common to temporary transvenous pacing wires and others are unique to temporary epicardial pacing wires.