Assessment of pro re nata inpatient opioid consumption following surgical treatment of severe odontogenic infections.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the pro re nata (PRN) opioid consumption of patients with severe odontogenic infections following operating room incision and drainage using odontogenic infection severity scores (SS). STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective study reviewed consecutive charts of patients admitted for severe odontogenic infections from January 2016 to December 2020. Postoperative opioid doses were tabulated. Severity scores (SSs) were assigned based on the risk to the airway and vital structures. Patients with SS ≥5 were designated as group A and patients with SS <5 as group B. The primary predictor variable was SS, and the primary outcome variable was amount of milligram morphine equivalent consumed. RESULTS: A total of 93 patients met the inclusion criteria. Group A included 40 patients, and group B included 53 patients. No statistically significant difference was found between the 2 groups in age, hospital duration, and American Society of Anesthesiologists classification. Group A consumed a significantly greater amount of PRN postoperative inpatient opioid medications (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with odontogenic infection SS ≥5 consumed more postoperative PRN opioid analgesic medications. Given that odontogenic infections are largely preventable, it is imperative to prevent progression of odontogenic infections to limit patient exposure to opioid medication.

Novel solid-state solar thermal simulator supplying 30,000 suns by a fibre optical probe.

An efficient 3.168 kW solid-state solar thermal simulator (SSSTS), capable of supplying ~30,000 suns at a focal plane via a fibre optical delivery, has been developed. The source consists of 41 diode lasers, each operated at a wavelength and power of ~915 nm and ~80 watt, respectively. The SSSTS provides a semi-top hat radiation profile and can be focused to a diameter of ~10.5 mm. The electro-optical power efficiency of the SSSTS was evaluated to be 55%, where the maximum value of the uniform radiation flux exceeds 36.6MW/m2. As such, the present technology is relevant to solar thermal applications that are not wavelength-sensitive or where narrow line-width is desirable. Additionally, the fibre optical delivery feature enables ease of direction onto a suitable target, without the need of large ellipsoidal reflectors usually employed for the conventional arc solar simulators. To demonstrate the new SSSTS, ZnO:Zn particles were introduced into the path of the radiation to investigate the change in their own temperature by using the laser induced phosphorescence technique (LIP). The temperature of the averaged particles was measured at a different radiation flux over a ~87 mm2 cross sectional area. A change in the average particle temperature of up to 225°C was detected within the measurement volume when the SSSTS was operated at a flux of ~30,000 suns. The unique characteristics of the SSSTS, namely, the uniformity, high power flux, efficiency, ease of delivery, and precise control of the radiation flux responds to the current demands of solar thermal research.