Pneumothorax can be caused by 1 of the following 4 mechanisms: (1) extrathoracic trauma (ie, closed-chest compressions), (2) spontaneous rupture of alveoli, (3) disruption of fascial planes in the neck (ie, traumatic intubation), or (4) abnormally high intrathoracic pressure (ie, valsalva from protracted coughing). Tension pneumothorax occurs when there is continuous loss of air from [...]
CASE REPORT
A 37-year-old black male, 5′ 3″ and 128 pounds, with a history of moderate to severe mental retardation was scheduled for elective dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia in the operating room of a small state mental hospital. Preoperative testing included an electrocardiogram (ECG), complete blood count, electrolytes, chest x-ray (CXR), and a full health [...]
In: Dental treatment
7 Jan 2010Pneumothorax, the loss of air from the lung into the pleural space, is described as being spontaneous or traumatic in origin. The spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) can be further subdivided into primary (ie, no underlying pulmonary disease) and secondary (ie, related to underlying pulmonary pathology). The general pathologic mechanism of the development of SP occurs from [...]
In: Dental treatment
6 Dec 2009This study offers confirmation that IV sedation techniques utilized in the general practice setting are a modality of pain and anxiety control that is amenable to the short turnover times encountered in general practice. Even the use of strict discharge criteria did not seem to have an impact on the recovery time in this study. [...]
In: Dental treatment
5 Dec 2009Patients included in the study ranged in age from 15 to 66 years, with an average of 37.8 ± 12.1 years. Weights ranged from 43 to 120 kg, with an average of 75.8 ± 15.4 kg (the Table). The majority were American Society of Anesthesiologists Category 1 and Category 2 patients (98%). Procedures undertaken included [...]
In: Dental treatment
4 Dec 2009All patients in this study were American Society of Anesthesiologists Category 1 and Category 2 patients undergoing general dental treatment. Written informed consent for the IV sedation was obtained from patients or their guardian before starting the procedure. Patients or their guardians were issued a written list of presedation instructions. All patients were examined before [...]
In: Dental treatment
3 Dec 2009Intravenous (IV) sedation has been used in dentistry for many years. One of its many perceived advantages over general anesthesia is the shorter recovery times attributed to this modality of pain and anxiety control. Other advantages include less patient preparation, reduced monitoring equipment requirements, and less stringent training for the personnel involved. However, most available [...]
Blog invites submissions of review articles, reports on clinical techniques, case reports, conference summaries, and articles of opinion pertinent to the control of pain and anxiety in dentistry.