Complications occuring with anesthesia administration during dental treatment

Objective: The goal of this prospective survey was to identify and quantify complications occurring with anesthesia administration during dental treatment.

Methods: This survey was completed by anesthesia caregivers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology(UPSDM)as a case-by-case evaluation A standardized form was used to collect data that requested the following information: anesthesia, treatment, and recovery start and stop time, type of procedure, type of anesthetic, anesthetic agents, preoperative history, age, ASA classification, Mallampati classification, and complication lists.

Results: After statistical analysis of five types of administered anesthetics, the overall complication rate was 24.1% in 286 cases. After separating the complications statistics into three categories (mild, moderate, and severe), data showed the complications were considered mild (84.1%) and moderate (15.9%), while no reports of severe complications transpired. The need for upper airway support (26.1%) and occurrence of nausea / vomiting (17.4%) were the most frequently encountered complications. Patients in whom complications developed were analyzed by ASA physical status, anesthesia administered, and Mallampati Classification. Of all patients demonstrating a need for upper airway support (n = 18), the highest percentage were ASA physical status II (66.7 %), Mallampati Classification II (53.8%), and received intravenous sedation (61.1%). In the group of 12 patients that experienced nausea / vomiting, the highest percentage were Mallampati Classification III (41.7%) while there was an even distribution between ASA physical status I and II. In addition, all patients experiencing nausea / vomiting received intravenous sedation (n = 12). It should be noted that 8 patients (66.7%) with nausea / vomiting did receive an antiemetic agent intraoperatively.

Conclusions: The overall complication rate of anesthesia administered during dental care is less than that reported within the hospital operating environment.