General dentistry
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This assessment sought to identify and quantify complications that occur with anesthesia administration during dental treatment of consecutive patients who received care through the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine's (UPSDM) Department of Anesthesiology. This prospective study was completed by participating anesthesia caregivers at the UPSDM as a case-by-case evaluation. A standardized form delineating possible complications was used to collect data following 286 consecutive outpatient anesthetic cases administered within the UPSDM. ⋯ The complications encountered most frequently were airway obstruction (18 reports) and occurrence of nausea/vomiting (12 reports). ASA classification, anesthetic technique, pre-existing medical findings, and the type of dental procedure performed all were variables that were found to affect the incidence of anesthesia-related complications. The overall complication rate from anesthesia administered during dental care is similar to or less than that reported within the hospital operating system environment.
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New epidemiologic evidence suggests that referred craniofacial pain in coronary heart disease is more common than previously believed. Current medical reports suggest that in addition to coronary disease, thoracic disorders such as aortic dissection, pericarditis, and lung cancer can cause referred craniofacial pain. Recent physiologic evidence from animals and humans suggests that the vagus nerve mediates this referral of cardiac pain to the maxillofacial region. This article discusses the critical role of the dentist in patient education and recognition of referred head and neck pain in thoracic disease, in relation to the need for prompt medical treatment for these life-threatening conditions.