Dental injury after conventional direct laryngoscopy: a prospective observational study

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

J Mourão (Author) FMDUP; Neto, J (Author) Other; Luis, C (Author) Other; Moreno, C (Author) Other; Barbosa, J (Author) FMUP; Carvalho, J (Author) Other; Tavares, J (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Anaesthesia

Vol. 68 No. 10

Pages: 1059-1065

ISSN: 0003-2409

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 32 Citations

Scopus - 39 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00J-QJQ

DOI: 10.1111/anae.12342

Abstract (EN): This observational study assessed the frequency and risk factors of dental damage after classic direct laryngoscopy for tracheal intubation in 536 adult patients. The patients' sex, age, height, weight, dental condition, dental mobility, Mallampati class, interincisor gap, thyromental distance, neck circumference, and head and neck extension were recorded. From anaesthesia records, the difficulty of intubation, the number of attempts, type of neuromuscular blocking agent used and duration of anaesthesia were recorded. After anaesthesia, examination revealed that 134 patients (25.0%) had dental damage affecting 162 teeth (147 maxillary; 15 mandibular). Enamel fracture was the commonest injury. In tooth number 21, the interincisor gap (OR 2.5 (95% CI 1.0-5.9)) and in tooth number 22, the number of intubation attempts (OR 5.3 (95% CI 1.3-22.0)) were considered a risk factor for dental injury. Conventional direct laryngoscopy is associated with a strikingly high incidence of dental damage, although specific risk factors remain unclear.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7