Behaviour support in dentistry: A Delphi study to agree terminology in behaviour management.

OBJECTIVES: Dental behaviour support (DBS) describes all specific techniques practiced to support patients in their experience of professional oral healthcare. DBS is roughly synonymous with behaviour management, which is an outdated concept. There is no agreed terminology to specify the techniques used to support patients who receive dental care. This lack of specificity may lead to imprecision in describing, understanding, teaching, evaluating and implementing behaviour support techniques in dentistry. Therefore, this e-Delphi study aimed to develop a list of agreed labels and descriptions of DBS techniques used in dentistry and sort them according to underlying principles of behaviour. METHODS: Following a registered protocol, a modified e-Delphi study was applied over two rounds with a final consensus meeting. The threshold of consensus was set a priori at 75%. Agreed techniques were then categorized by four coders, according to behavioural learning theory, to sort techniques according to their mechanism of action. RESULTS: The panel (n = 35) agreed on 42 DBS techniques from a total of 63 candidate labels and descriptions. Complete agreement was achieved regarding all labels and descriptions, while agreement was not achieved regarding distinctiveness for 17 techniques. In exploring underlying principles of learning, it became clear that multiple and differing principles may apply depending on the specific context and procedure in which the technique may be applied. DISCUSSION: Experts agreed on what each DBS technique is, what label to use, and their description, but were less likely to agree on what distinguishes one technique from another. All techniques were describable but not comprehensively categorizable according to principles of learning. While objective consistency was not attained, greater clarity and consistency now exists. The resulting list of agreed terminology marks a significant foundation for future efforts towards understanding DBS techniques in research, education and clinical care.

Auto-Brewery Syndrome and General Anesthesia: A Case Report.

Auto-brewery syndrome (ABS) is a rare condition in which ethanol is endogenously fermented by fungi in the gut following a carbohydrate-rich meal, resulting in intoxication. We present a case of a patient with ABS successfully undergoing general anesthesia for symptomatic wisdom tooth extraction. During previous anesthetics, the patient had experienced postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and awareness under anesthesia. Patients with ABS can be optimized for anesthesia by assessing hepatic function, avoiding perioperative oral carbohydrates, increasing anesthetic depth, multimodal PONV prophylaxis, and avoidance of broad-spectrum antibiotics.

The Physical Compatibility of Glycopyrrolate and Rocuronium.

OBJECTIVE: Scientific evidence has rarely, if at all, been reported in the literature demonstrating analytical confirmation of the physical compatibility and stability of glycopyrrolate and rocuronium combined. The purpose of this experiment was to determine if glycopyrrolate and rocuronium are physically compatible. METHODS: Glycopyrrolate and rocuronium were combined in various containers, observed over a 60-minute period, and compared against positive and negative controls. Measured metrics included color change, precipitate formation, Tyndall beam test, turbidity, and pH. Statistical analyses were used to assess significance of data trends. RESULTS: The combination of glycopyrrolate and rocuronium did not result in any color change, precipitate formation, a positive Tyndall beam test, or a significantly positive turbidity and did not result in any significant change in pH, regardless of container. CONCLUSION: Per the protocol used in this study, glycopyrrolate and rocuronium were determined to be physically compatible.

Regulatory barriers to dental anesthesia services for special populations.

AIMS: Sedation and general anesthesia are necessities for the treatment of many individuals within special populations such as those with physical and intellectual disabilities, fear/anxiety, or individuals requiring extensive procedures. This study aims to discover regulatory factors that may be contributing to the limited access to anesthesia services provided by dentist anesthesiologists. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study included an online survey completed by self-reported dentist anesthesiologists with 2 or more years of formal anesthesia training. The survey was distributed at the April 2019 American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists national meeting in Chicago. Participants responded to questions regarding the effect of specific state regulations on decisions to practice in a particular state and how such regulations influenced patient safety and barriers to care. Rules and regulatory restrictions on the mobility of dentist anesthesiologist equipment/supplies and additional state narcotic transportation regulations were deemed statistically significant in failing to improve safety. Requiring airway and sedation training for a facility's provider and staff were not barriers to care. Rules and regulations were not a factor to establishing clinical practice in one state over another state. CONCLUSION: Individuals and organizations responsible for influencing the regulatory environment of anesthesia services should improve regulations to facilitate the mobility of dentist anesthesiologists.

Medical Emergency Management in the Dental Office (MEMDO): A Pilot Study Assessing a Simulation-Based Training Curriculum for Dentists.

In the event of a medical emergency in the dental office, the dentist must be able to identify a patient in distress, assess the situation, and institute proper management. This study assessed the impact of a simulation-based medical emergency preparedness curriculum on a resident's ability to manage medical emergencies. This interventional and pre-post educational pilot study included 8 participants who completed a standard curriculum and 8 who completed a modified curriculum (N = 16). The intervention consisted of a comprehensive medical emergency preparedness curriculum that replaced lecture sessions in a standard curriculum. Participants completed performance assessments using scenario-based objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) that were recorded and evaluated by calibrated faculty reviewers using a customized scoring grid. The intervention group performed significantly better than the control group on their summative OSCEs, averaging 90.9 versus 61.2 points out of 128 (p = .0009). All participants from the intervention group passed their summative OSCE with scores >60%, while none from the control group received passing scores. Completion of a simulation-based medical emergency preparedness curriculum significantly improved resident performance during simulated medical emergencies.

Cardiac Arrest Upon Induction of General Anesthesia.

There are numerous causes of cardiac arrest in the perioperative period, including hypoxia, hypovolemia, and vagal response to medications or procedures during routine anesthetics. Initiation of adequate cardiopulmonary resuscitation, administration of epinephrine, and application of a defibrillator, with shocking when applicable, are all essential steps in achieving return of spontaneous circulation. Knowledge and utilization of monitoring equipment can alert the provider to problems leading to cardiac arrest as well as ensure proper resuscitative efforts during the event. Polypharmacy is quite common with many of today's special needs patients. It is important to understand the medications they are taking as well as the potential interactions that may occur with drugs given during sedation and general anesthesia. The following is a case report of cardiac arrest including asystole and pulseless electrical activity in a 27-year-old man with autism and behavioral problems who presented for restorative dentistry under general anesthesia in the ambulatory surgery setting.

Pseudocholinesterase Deficiency Considerations: A Case Study.

Pseudocholinesterase deficiency, sometimes called butyrylcholinesterase deficiency, is a rare disorder in which the neuromuscular blocking drugs succinylcholine and mivacurium cannot be metabolized properly in the blood plasma. This disorder can either be acquired as a result of certain comorbidities or it can be inherited genetically. Anesthesia providers must understand the pathophysiology of pseudocholinesterase deficiency and be prepared to safely and effectively manage patients who show signs and symptoms consistent with the disorder after the use of the indicated neuromuscular blocking drugs. This article summarizes the pharmacologic and physiologic data relevant to understanding the basic pathophysiology associated with pseudocholinesterase deficiency and illustrates a case study of a young woman suspected of having the disorder after a prolonged delay in emergence from general anesthesia.

Medical Management of Epiglottitis.

Epiglottitis is most commonly caused by bacterial infection resulting in inflammation and edema of the epiglottis and neighboring supraglottic structures. Acute infection was once found predominantly in children ages 2 to 6 years old, but with the introduction of the Haemophilus influenzae B (HiB) vaccine the incidence of cases in adults is increasing. Typical clinical presentation of epiglottitis includes fever and sore throat. Evidence of impending airway obstruction may be demonstrated by muffled voice, drooling, tripod position, and stridor. Radiographs can be helpful in diagnosing epiglottitis; however, they should not supersede or postpone securing the airway. An airway specialist such as an otolaryngologist, anesthesiologist, or intensivist should ideally evaluate the patient immediately to give ample time for preparing to secure the airway if necessary. All patients with epiglottitis should be admitted to the intensive care unit for close monitoring.

Ludwig's Angina: Anesthetic Management.

Ludwig's angina (LA) is a gangrenous cellulitis of the neck that spreads via continuity of the fascial planes. Treatment of LA includes aggressive antibiotic therapy as well as surgical drainage in many cases. The most common cause of infection is odontogenic and can be due to both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Signs and symptoms of LA include bilateral cervical swelling, dysphagia, drooling, neck tenderness, elevation and posterior distension of the tongue, restricted neck movement, trismus, dyspnea, and stridor, which can result in difficult airway management. Proper preoperative assessment of patients with LA should include identifying features that may cause difficulties with mask ventilation, direct laryngoscopy, and intubation. Alternative methods of ventilation should be considered and immediately accessible, including a plan on how and when they would be used in the event that a patient cannot be mask ventilated or intubated. Marking external anatomical airway landmarks prior to manipulating the airway can save vital time if an emergent airway becomes necessary.

Malignant Hyperthermia: A Case Study in the Dental Ambulatory Surgery Setting.

Historically, patients who developed malignant hyperthermia had an extremely high rate of mortality. Today, if treated appropriately, patients who experience an episode of malignant hyperthermia will most likely survive. This dramatic decrease in mortality associated with malignant hyperthermia is due to several factors, including an increased understanding of the disease, improved diagnostic and monitoring equipment, and the development of lifesaving pharmacologic agents. This article presents the very likely case of acute malignant hyperthermia in a 24-year-old man with special needs, who presented for restorative dentistry under general anesthesia in the outpatient clinic of The Ohio State University's College of Dentistry.

Sugammadex: Efficacy and Practicality in the Dental Office.

Sugammadex is a novel drug capable of reversing paralysis induced by the common steroidal nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking drugs, rocuronium and vecuronium. Reversal is complete at any depth of blockade dependent on the dose of sugammadex administered. This allows rocuronium to be used as a rescue agent in scenarios where succinylcholine is contraindicated. Sugammadex is considered a safe drug with minimal side effects compared with traditional reversal with neostigmine and glycopyrrolate. This article features a case report where succinylcholine was undesirable and rapid reversal of paralysis with sugammadex was used during general anesthesia for dentistry.

Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: Anesthetic Management in the Ambulatory Setting: Part 2: Pharmacology and Guidelines for Perioperative Management.

Type 2 diabetes is a disease of metabolism in which the afflicted patient cannot properly utilize carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Because the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing throughout the general population, anesthesia providers must realize that a significant percentage of their patients will present with the disease. Anesthesia providers should have an intimate knowledge of the comorbidities and complications that are associated with type 2 diabetes and know the specific pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drugs used to treat the disease. Part 1 of this series on the anesthetic management of type 2 diabetes in the ambulatory theater addressed the pathology of diabetes and its comorbid disease states. Part 2 of the series now focuses on the pharmacology associated with the many medications used to treat the disorder and the most recent guidelines for blood glucose management recommended for patients in an ambulatory surgery setting.

Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: Anesthetic Management in the Ambulatory Setting. Part 1: Pathophysiology and Associated Disease States.

The increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the general population has many implications for the ambulatory anesthesia provider. Complications, particularly associated with poor glycemic control, can affect multiple organ systems and jeopardize the safety of any planned anesthetic. It is essential that anesthesiologists and sedation providers have in-depth knowledge of the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus and the comorbid conditions that commonly accompany it. Anesthesiologists and sedation providers must also understand certain surgical and anesthetic considerations when planning an effective and safe anesthetic for diabetic patients. This is a 2-part series concerning perioperative glycemic control for patients with diabetes mellitus. Part 1 will focus on the physiology of diabetes and its associated disease states. Part 2 will address the pharmacology associated with the wide variety of medications used to treat the disorder and the most recent guidelines for blood glucose management in ambulatory surgical patients.

Inadvertent Endobronchial Intubation in a Patient With a Short Neck Length.

Inadvertent placement of the endotracheal tube into the right bronchus during intubation for general anesthesia is a fairly common occurrence. Many precautions should be taken by the anesthesia provider in order to minimize the incidence of endobronchial intubation, including bilateral auscultation of the lungs, use of the 21/23 rule, and palpation of the inflated endotracheal cuff at the sternal notch. These provisions, however, are not foolproof; anesthesia providers should realize that endobronchial intubation may occur from time to time because of variations in patient anatomy, changes in patient positioning, and cephalad pressures exerted during surgery. A 58-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease received general endotracheal anesthesia for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. His height was 165 cm (5 ft, 5 in) and the endotracheal tube was secured at his incisors at 21 cm after placement with a rigid laryngoscope. Bilateral breath sounds were confirmed with auscultation, although they were distant because of his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. After radiographic examination in the postanesthesia care unit, a right main-stem intubation was revealed to have taken place, resulting in complete atelectasis of the left lung. After repositioning of the endotracheal tube, radiography confirmed that the patient had an anatomically short tracheal length.