Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine最新文献

It is important to understand patients' anxiety and fear about dental treatment. A patient's anxiety can be quantified through a self-report questionnaire, and many related scales have been developed. In this review, I tried to find out which scale is most suitable for the patient's dental anxiety and fear evaluation by examining the contents of previously developed scales and comparing the strengths and weaknesses of each scale.

Background: Local anesthesia has been reliably used to control pain during dental procedures and is important in pediatric dentistry. However, children occasionally complain of prolonged numbness after dental treatment, leading to several problems. Studies conducted to reverse the effect of local anesthesia using phentolamine mesylate and photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) are encouraging but limited. PBM is a type of light therapy that utilizes visible and near-infrared non-ionizing electromagnetic spectral light sources. Hence, this study used this modality to compare the reversal of local anesthesia at two different wavelengths. This study compared the effect of PBM at 660 and 810 nm wavelengths on the reversal of soft tissue local anesthesia using a diode LASER in pediatric dentistry.

Method: Informed consent and assent were obtained, and the participants were then divided randomly into three groups of 20 children each: control group-without LASER irradiation, LASER irradiation at 660 nm, and LASER irradiation at 810 nm. Sixty children aged 4-8 years with deciduous mandibular molars indicated for pulp therapy were administered an inferior alveolar nerve block. After 45 min of injection, a duration that was similar to the approximate duration of treatment, they were exposed to 660- and 810-nm LASER irradiation according to their groups until reversal of local anesthesia was achieved. The control group did not undergo LASER irradiation. The reversal of the soft tissue local anesthetic effect was evaluated using palpation and pin prick tests every 15 min, and the LASER irradiation cycle continued until reversal of the soft tissue local anesthesia was achieved.

Results: A significant reduction of 55.5 min (27.6%) in the mean soft tissue local anesthesia reversal time was observed after the application of 810 nm wavelength PBM and 69 min (34.7%) after 660 nm wavelength LASER irradiation.

Conclusion: PBM with a 660 nm wavelength was more effective in reducing the mean soft tissue local anesthesia reversal duration, and thus can be used as a reversal agent for soft tissue local anesthesia in pediatric dentistry.

Background: We assessed the relationship between patient age and remifentanil dosing rate in patients managed under general anesthesia with spontaneous breathing using low-dose remifentanil in sevoflurane.

Methods: The participants were patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status of 1 or 2 maintained under general anesthesia with low-dose remifentanil in 1.5-2.0% sevoflurane. The infusion rate of remifentanil was adjusted so that the spontaneous respiratory rate was half the rate prior to the induction of anesthesia, and γ^H (µg/kg/min) was defined as the infusion rate of remifentanil under stable conditions where the respiratory rate was half the rate prior to the induction of anesthesia for ≥ 15 minutes. The relationship between γ^H and patient age was analyzed statistically by Spearman's correlation analysis.

Results: During dental treatment under general anesthesia using low-dose remifentanil in sevoflurane, a significant correlation was detected between γ^H and patient age. The regression line of y = -0.00079 x + 0.066 (y-axis; γ^H, x-axis; patient's age) was provided. The values of γ^H provide 0.064 µg/kg/min at 2 years and 0.0186 µg/kg/min at 60 years. Therefore, as age increases, the dosing rate exhibits a declining trend. Furthermore, in the dosing rate of remifentanil when the patient's respiratory rate was reduced by half from the preanesthetic respiratory rate, the dosing rate provided was around 0.88 mL/h in all ages if the remifentanil was diluted as 0.1 mg/mL. EtCO₂ showed 51.0 ± 5.7 mmHg, and SpO₂ was controlled within the normal range by this method. In addition, all dental treatments were performed without major problems, such as awakening and body movement during general anesthesia, and the post-anesthetic recovery process was stable.

Conclusion: General anesthesia with spontaneous breathing provides various advantages, and the present method is appropriate for minimally invasive procedures.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep-breathing disorder associated with significant comorbidities and perioperative complications. This narrative review is aimed at comprehensively overviewing preoperative risk evaluation and perioperative management strategies for patients with OSA. OSA is characterized by recurrent episodes of upper airway obstruction during sleep leading to hypoxemia and arousal. Anatomical features, such as upper airway narrowing and obesity, contribute to the development of OSA. OSA can be diagnosed based on polysomnography findings, and positive airway pressure therapy is the mainstay of treatment. However, alternative therapies, such as oral appliances or upper airway surgery, can be considered for patients with intolerance. Patients with OSA face perioperative challenges due to difficult airway management, comorbidities, and effects of sedatives and analgesics. Anatomical changes, reduced upper airway muscle tone, and obesity increase the risks of airway obstruction, and difficulties in intubation and mask ventilation. OSA-related comorbidities, such as cardiovascular and respiratory disorders, further increase perioperative risks. Sedatives and opioids can exacerbate respiratory depression and compromise airway patency. Therefore, careful consideration of alternative pain management options is necessary. Although the association between OSA and postoperative mortality remains controversial, concerns exist regarding adverse outcomes in patients with OSA. Understanding the pathophysiology of OSA, implementing appropriate preoperative evaluations, and tailoring perioperative management strategies are vital to ensure patient safety and optimize surgical outcomes.