Assessing the Need for Anesthesia and Sedation Services in Kuwaiti Dental Practice

The objective of this study was to examine the public health relevance of the prevalence of dental fear in Kuwait and the resultant barrier that it creates regarding access to dental care. The study analysis demonstrated a high prevalence of dental fear and anxiety in the Kuwaiti population and a perceived need for anesthesia services by dental care providers. The telephone survey of the general population showed nearly 35% of respondents reported being somewhat nervous, very nervous, or terrified about going to the dentist. In addition, about 36% of the population postponed their dental treatment because of fear. Respondents showed a preference to receive sedation and anesthesia services as a means of anxiety relief, and they were willing to go to the dentist more often when such services were available. People with high fear and anxiety preferred to receive some type of medication to relieve their anxiety. In conclusion, the significance and importance of the need for anesthesia services to enhance the public health of dental patients in Kuwait has been demonstrated, and improvements are needed in anesthesia and sedation training of Kuwaiti dental care providers.     

Monitored Anesthesia Care with Propofol Versus Surgeon-Monitored Sedation with Benzodiazepines and Narcotics for Preoperative Endoscopy in the Morbidly Obese

Background Although still controversial, upper endoscopy is frequently performed before bariatric surgery. This study investigated the hypothesis that morbidly obese patients would prefer anesthesiologist-monitored sedation (AMS) compared to surgeon-monitored sedation (SMS) during preoperative endoscopy. Methods All patients who underwent endoscopy before their bariatric surgery were given a post-procedure survey regarding their experience with the preoperative endoscopy. The survey inquired about issues during and after the procedure. We compared patients who had AMS with IV propofol versus SMS IV narcotics and benzodiazepines. Results There were 100 patients (SMS = 49 and AMS = 51). Few patients complained of pain in the abdomen or throat during the procedure (AMS vs. SMS = 2 vs. 8% and 2 vs. 10%, respectively; p = NS). More patients complained about throat pain after the procedure (AMS vs. SMS = 37 vs. 45%; p = NS). More patients in the SMS group remembered the scope being placed in the mouth versus AMS (33 vs. 10%; p < 0.02). More patients remembered gagging during the procedure in the SMS group versus the AMS group, but this did not reach statistical significance (24 vs. 10%; p = 0.06). There was a trend that more patients in the AMS group felt they recovered in less than 1 h (53%) compared to the SMS group (37%; p = 0.1). Conclusion Patients who undergo upper endoscopy with either AMS or SMS seem to tolerate the procedure well. The preliminary benefits seen with AMS need to be further explored. AMS should be considered for patients undergoing preoperative upper endoscopy before bariatric surgery. Presented at the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity annual meeting; August 2006; Sydney, Australia.     

Anesthesia mortality and morbidity in Japan: A study of lawsuit cases

To date, there have been no systematic studies on anesthetic accidents in Japan. This study was conducted to clarify the present status of anesthetic accidents by sending a questionnaire to a group of plaintiff's lawyers specializing in medical malpractice. At present, because of manpower shortages, anesthesia is provided by either anesthesia specialists (anesthesiologists) or non-anesthesiologist physicians in Japan. Among 112 lawsuits which involved the use of anesthesia, 64 were analyzed as to the person primarily responsible for administering the anesthesia, the types of anesthesia, the details of major mishaps, and intraoperative monitoring. Of particular note was a large number of deaths from cardiac arrest and hypotension in spinal anesthesia administered by non-anesthesiologists. The results clearly showed that non-anesthesiologists had a substantial incidence of mortality cases among accidents compared with anesthesiologists. Human error was the most frequent cause, but a lack and/or a grave omission of intraoperative monitors was found in non-anesthesiologist-related cases.     

Anesthesia for video-assisted surgery of the thoracic and lumbar spine: a survey of 44 patients

INTRODUCTION: The development of video-assisted surgery of the dorsolumbar spine has led to the need for adaptations for appropriate anesthetic management. Data concerning anesthesia for such surgery is very sparse in the literature. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this retrospective study of 44 patients was to learn more about anesthesia practices used for patients undergoing this type of surgery. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The files of 44 patients were studied retrospectively. Epidemiologic data and the perioperative phase were analysed. RESULTS: The preoperative phase was not specific with preoperative assessment adapted to each patient. Similarly, monitoring practices during the surgical procedure were not specific. The choice of the anesthetic agents depended on the patient's clinical status. For tracheal intubation, care was taken to enable lung exclusion, even if not often used. Thoracic drainage at the end of the surgery was required in the event of imperfect hemostasis and in selected patients was replaced by pneumothorax exsufflation during closure. The postoperative period was uneventful and did not require admission to intensive care; non-specific analgesia was used. DISCUSSION: Adaptations of anesthetic practices are required each time a new surgical technique is developed. Excepting lung exclusion, anesthesia for video-assisted dorsolumbar spine surgery is not specific.     

Pediatric Surgery from the Roads Less Traveled: Challenges,Communication, and Collaboration from a Community Nonteaching Hospital

Unique challenges face pediatric surgeons at community-based nonteaching hospitals. Communication and collaboration among and between healthcare providers, hospital administrators, and quaternary referral programs is crucial for the success of these smaller hospitals as they care for children.     

End-tidal CO2 on admission is associated with hemorrhagic shock and predicts the need for massive transfusion as defined by the critical administration threshold: A pilot study

BackgroundCritical administration threshold (≥3 units of packed red blood cells/h or CAT+) has been proposed as a new definition for massive transfusion (MT) that includes volume and rate of blood transfusion. CAT+ has been shown to eliminate survivor bias and be a better predictor of mortality than the traditional MT (>10 units/24 h). End-tidal CO₂ (ET CO₂) negatively correlates with lactate and is an early predictor of shock in trauma patients. We conducted a pilot study to test the hypothesis that low ET CO₂ on admission predicts CAT+.MethodsET CO₂ via capnography and serum lactate were prospectively collected on admission for 131 patients requiring trauma team activation. Demographic data were obtained from patient charts. Excluded were patients with isolated head injuries, traumatic arrests, or pre-hospital intubations. CAT± status was determined for each hour up to 6 h from admission as described; likewise, MT± status was determined up to 24 h from admission.ResultsAfter exclusion criteria, 67 patients were analyzed. Mean age was 41.2 (SD 18.5). Thirty-three patients had a blunt mechanism of injury (49%), median ISS was 9 (interquartile range 4–19), and there were 6 deaths (9%). ET CO₂ and lactate were negatively correlated by Spearman rank-based correlation (rho = −0.41, p = 0.0006). Twenty-one (31%) and 8 (12%) patients were CAT+ and traditional MT+, respectively. There were a significantly greater proportion of patients with ISS > 15, ET CO₂ <35, or who died found to be CAT+. A binomial logistic regression model adjusting for age, SBP <90, HR, and ISS >15 revealed ET CO₂ < 35 to be independently predictive of CAT+ (OR 9.24, 95% CI 1.51-56.57, p = 0.016).ConclusionsThis pilot study demonstrated that low ET CO₂ had strong association with standard indicators for shock and was predictive of patients meeting CAT+ criteria in the first 6 h after admission. Further study to verify these results and to elucidate CAT criteria’s association with mortality will require a larger sample size.     

Comparison of Acceptance,Preference, and Efficacy Between Jet Injection INJEX and Local Infiltration Anesthesia in 6 to 11 Year Old Dental Patients

Needleless devices have been developed to provide anesthesia without injections. Little controlled research has examined the acceptability of needleless devices in pediatric patients. The aims of the study were to compare children’s acceptance and preference for one type of needleless jet injection with classical local infiltration as well as to evaluate the efficacy of the needleless anesthesia. Eighty-seven nonfearful children with no previous experience of dental anesthesia were studied using a split-mouth design. The first dental procedure was performed with the classical infiltration anesthesia. The same amount of anesthetic was administered using the INJEX needleless device in a second session 1 week later, during which a second dental procedure was performed. Patients rated their acceptance and preference for the 2 methods, and the dentist recorded data about the need for additional anesthesia. More negative experiences were reported for the INJEX method. Most (73.6%) of the children preferred the traditional method. Among the 87 treatment procedures attempted following the use of INJEX, 80.5% required additional anesthesia, compared with 2.3% of those attempted following traditional infiltration. Traditional infiltration was more effective, acceptable, and preferred, compared with the needleless INJEX.     

气管切除术麻醉及手术方式探讨

目的探讨不同气管疾病气管切除的麻醉和手术方式。方法回顾性分析18例气管切除手术的临床资料,分析麻醉和手术方法的选择及其与结果的关系。结果局部麻醉(局麻)气管切开插管麻醉2例,经气管造口插管麻醉2例,体外循环2例,气管插管全身麻醉12例,全组无麻醉和手术死亡。局部切除3例,节段性切除15例,气管切除最长8,0cm。节段性切除后一期吻合8例．记忆合金网二期成形人工气管7例,人工气管长度3．0—5．0cm。随访5个月-8年,4例因肿瘤等原因分别死于术后4,11及12个月,其余均生存。结论气管切除的麻醉与手术方式因人而异,高危患者可以体外循环,或者局麻下气管切开插管;开胸后切开气管或右主支气管,行左主支气管插管是有效、安全的麻醉方法。全身状况差者可仅行局部切除,切除气管小于5cm者可行节段性切除一期吻合,大于5.5cm者,可以用记忆合金网二期成形人工气管重建气管缺损。