CJA
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a scholarly reply
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by KAY, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by KAY, M.

Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 30, 406-412, Copyright © 1983 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

Clinical Reports: General Anaesthesia in the Private Dental Office

MARVIN KAY MD

Address correspondence to: Dr. Marvin Kay, 12 Peveril Hill Road South, Toronto, Ontario M6C 3A8

Experience with a mobile anaesthetic service providing general anaesthetics in dental offices is reported. With the aid of a trained assistant, the author administered more than 10,000 general anaesthetics in over 200 dental offices during the past 18 years.

Fear was the most frequent indication for general anaesthesia, followed by economy and comfort during lengthy treatment, young age, and the inability to co-operate. Requests for restorative dentistry exceeded those for dental surgery.

Patients aged 5 to 55 were accepted after examination by their family physicians. Before the procedure each patient received printed instructions, and a telephone call and a questionnaire was completed prior to the anaesthetic.

The principal equipment used was a portable Haloxair unit. After intravenous induction and nasotracheal intubation, halothane in air with added oxygen was used for maintenance.

The procedures lasted from 45 to 120 minutes.

Patients recovered in the dental chair, were discharged accompanied by a responsible adult and contacted again by telephone on the same evening.

Transient postoperative complications encountered were: sore throat, muscle stiffness, nausea and vomiting, nasal bleeding. One patient with undiagnosed malignant hyperthermia was immediately taken to hospital but died in spite of therapy. Two patients with succinylcholine apnoea were transported to hospital after completion of the dental procedure.

The experience of 18 years demonstrates that general anaesthesia can be administered safely in dental offices, with care in patient selection and attention to technical detail.

Key Words: ANAESTHESIA: dental, outpatient, ANAESTHETIC EQUIPMENT: portable






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1983 by the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.