Cardiovascular responses to epinephrine-containing local anesthetics for dental use: a comparison of hemodynamic responses to infiltration anesthesia and ergometer-stress testing

Cardiovascular and Vector-Cardiographic Effects of Articaine Anesthesia with Epinephrine

The aim was to investigate the vector-cardiographic effects in patients submitted to dental extraction under local anesthesia. Twenty-one patients aged 36.6 ± 12.4 years with a clinical and radiographic indication of mandibular or maxillary tooth extraction were enrolled. The intervention was a local or mandibular nerve block anesthesia with 4% articaine hydrochloride containing epinephrine (1 : 100,000; 40 mg/ml + 10 μg/ml). Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), pulse wave transit time, and vector-cardiography data were recorded throughout 3 min before and 5 min after injection. QRS- and T-wave area under the curve (QRS AUC/T AUC) were calculated from the X/Y/Z QRS-vector or T-vector. T-wave amplitude (T AM), T AUC values, and diastolic BP decreased, and HR significantly increased 4 min after injection. A transient moderate HR drop and a corresponding small increase in T AM and T AUC immediately after the injection procedure may be explained by a decreased sympathetic tone due to psychological relief. In dental anesthesia, the systemic epinephrine effects are represented by a decrease in T AUC. These effects are most pronounced in the X- and Y-leads. The 3D determination of vector planes or amplitudes is a simple method to register the sympathetic tone in local anesthesia independently of possible effects on T-wave characteristics in single leads. In conclusion, T-wave determination may help to detect even small increases in systemic adrenaline concentration in case of accidental intravascular injection. At the same time, full rhythm and spatial ischemia control is provided.

Effect of Local Anaesthesia with and without Adrenaline on Blood Glucose Concentration in Patients Undergoing Tooth Extractions - A Comparative Study

Introduction

Local anaesthesia (LA) is the usual drug used in dentistry to reduce intraoperative pain. The efficacy of lignocaine is improved by adding adrenaline as a vasoconstrictor. Adrenaline decreases the systemic absorption of LA and reduces blood loss during the surgical procedure. The study was conducted to observe the effect of adrenaline on blood glucose concentration in patients undergoing tooth extraction.

Materials and Methods

The study was conducted on 100 patients needing multiple teeth extraction. On the first appointment, extraction was done using lignocaine without adrenaline (plain), and for the second appointment, extraction was done using lignocaine with adrenaline (1:200,000). Serial blood glucose estimations were carried out at identical intervals on both occasions.

Results

Significant difference in blood glucose level was noted when the patients received lignocaine with adrenaline before administration and after 10 min/20 min intervals (P < 0.05).

Discussion

Constant vigilance and prudence are recommended while using lignocaine with adrenaline in patients suffering from diabetes mellitus.

Sympathetic Nerve Activity During Tooth Extraction in Women Is Related to Dental Anxiety Immediately After Surgery

PURPOSE

This study assessed the relationship between changes in autonomic nervous system activity during impacted mandibular third molar extraction and a patient's postoperative psychological status, with the overarching aim of informing the development of interventions to reduce dental phobia and anxiety. We hypothesized that changes in autonomic nervous system activity during tooth extraction are related to postoperative psychology.

METHODS

In our prospective cohort study, heart rate variability, heart rate (HR), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were recorded during impacted mandibular third molar extraction. Heart rate variability values were dichotomized as either low frequency (LF 0.04-0.15 Hz) or high frequency (HF >0.15 Hz). The relative ratios (intraoperative vs baseline) of LF/HF, HF, HR, and SBP were divided into high and low groups based on their median values; the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) results were compared between the groups with high and low relative ratios.

RESULTS

Data of 34 female patients (age, 28.23 ± 1.05 years) were analyzed. Postoperative STAI-S values were significantly lower than preoperative values. Patients in the high LF/HF group had a significantly lower change in STAI-S values than those in the low LF/HF group (P < .05). There were no significant differences in the change in STAI-S values between the groups with high and low HF, HR, or SBP.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with low sympathetic nervous system activity had lower anxiety; the LF/HF index was the most sensitive indicator for changes in stress. Additional studies are required to develop optimal interventions for reducing sympathetic nerve activity in patients with dental phobia.

Difference in the Effects of Lidocaine With Epinephrine and Prilocaine With Felypressin on the Autonomic Nervous System During Extraction of the Impacted Mandibular Third Molar: A Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE

Complications during local anesthesia include increased blood pressure and vasovagal reflex, which are caused by changes in the autonomic nervous system. The commonly used local anesthetic preparations are lidocaine to which the vasoconstrictor epinephrine is added (lidocaine-epinephrine) and prilocaine to which the vasoconstrictor felypressin is added (prilocaine-felypressin); however, their effects during dental treatment are unclear. We examined the effects of these 2 different local anesthetic preparations on the autonomic nervous system and circulation during extraction of the impacted mandibular third molar.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this randomized controlled trial, 40 female patients scheduled for extraction of an impacted mandibular third molar were randomized to the lidocaine-epinephrine group or prilocaine-felypressin group. Heart rate variability, heart rate, and systolic blood pressure were recorded during the experiment. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed, and the P value was set at .05.

RESULTS

The low frequency-high frequency ratio was significantly increased in the prilocaine-felypressin group during extraction compared with that in the lidocaine-epinephrine group (P < .05). In the lidocaine-epinephrine group, a significant decrease in the high-frequency component was observed during bone removal and extraction compared with that at rest (P < .05). In both groups, a significant increase in systolic blood pressure was observed during local anesthesia, incision and reflection of the flap, bone removal, separation of the tooth crown, extraction, and suturing compared with that at rest (P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first to investigate the differences in the influence of 2 different local anesthetic preparations on the autonomic nervous system during extraction of the mandibular third molar. Changes in circulatory dynamics during tooth extraction with the 2 different local anesthetic preparations were the result of a decrease in parasympathetic nervous activity with lidocaine-epinephrine and an increase in sympathetic nervous activity with prilocaine-felypressin.

Hypoperfusion in response to epinephrine in local anaesthetics: Investigation of dependence on epinephrine concentration, spread of hypoperfusion and time to maximal cutaneous vasoconstriction

OBJECTIVES

The present study aimed to examine hypoperfusion in response to epinephrine following the administration of a local anaesthetic. The concentration of epinephrine that causes maximal hypoperfusion, the spread of hypoperfusion in the tissue and the time to the stabilization of hypoperfusion were investigated.

METHODS

Blood perfusion was monitored using laser Doppler velocimetry and laser speckle contrast imaging of random-pattern advancement flaps (1 × 4 cm) or intact skin on the pig flank. Epinephrine was either injected cumulatively (0.1, 1.0, 10 or 100 μg/ml) after injecting 20 mg/ml lidocaine, to determine the concentration response, or given as a single dose (12.5 μg/ml epinephrine+20 mg/ml lidocaine). Control experiments were performed with saline or lidocaine (without epinephrine).

RESULTS

Increasing concentrations of epinephrine resulted in a gradual decrease in skin perfusion, approaching a minimum after injecting 10 μg/ml. The area of hypoperfusion was 12 mm in radius, and the time from the injection to the stabilization of hypoperfusion was approximately 120 s. After the administration of 10 μg/ml epinephrine in flaps with small pedicle, 25% blood perfusion still remained.

CONCLUSIONS

Local anaesthetic with an epinephrine concentration of approximately 10 μg/ml appears to be adequate for vasoconstriction before surgery. Incisions were required to be delayed only for 2 min following local anaesthetic with epinephrine in pigs. The remaining 25% blood perfusion observed after the administration of epinephrine supports the use of epinephrine in flaps with a small pedicle. Obviously, these experimental findings must be clinically assessed before being considered for infiltration anaesthesia during plastic surgery procedures.

Articaine (4%) with epinephrine (1:100,000 or 1:200,000) in inferior alveolar nerve block: Effects on the vital signs and onset, and duration of anesthesia

Background

This prospective, randomized, double-blind, clinical study was conducted to compare the effects of 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine (A100) and 4% articaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine (A200) on the vital signs and onset and duration of anesthesia in an inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB).

Methods

In the first appointment, an IANB was performed by injecting A100 or A200 in 1 side of the mouth (right or left) randomly in patients referred for extraction of both their first mandibular molars. In the second appointment, the protocol was repeated and the other anesthetic solution was injected in the side that had not received the block in the previous session. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP) and pulse rate were measured during and 5 min after the injection. The onset and duration of anesthesia were also evaluated. Data were analyzed using t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test, and p-value was set at 0.05.

Results

SBP and pulse rate changes were slightly more with A100; however, DBP changes were more with A200, although the differences were not significant (P > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the parameters evaluated in this study. The onset and duration of anesthesia, and the changes in SBP, DBP, and pulse rate during and 5 min after the injection were the same in both the groups.

Conclusions

For an IANB, A200 and A100 were equally efficient and successful in producing the block. Epinephrine concentration did not influence the effects of 4% articaine.

Comparative Effects of Clonidine and Adrenaline with Lignocaine during Maxillary Infiltration Anaesthesia for Dental Extraction

INTRODUCTION

Lignocaine is a commonly used local anaesthetic in dental practice. Many practitioners use adrenaline (epinephrine) as additive with lignocaine, and some have used clonidine, instead of adrenaline. Both having benefits and limitations.

AIMS

Hence a study was undertaken in our department to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using (plain lidocaine local anaesthetic) versus (lidocaine with adrenaline as additive) versus (lidocaine with clonidine as additive).

STUDY DESIGN

Randomised, prospective, double blind study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy five patients requiring extraction of maxillary molar teeth who fall under ASA I category were included and randomly divided into group - I (n=25) (Lignocaine), group - II (n=25) (Lignocaine ± Adrenaline) and group - III (n=25) (Lignocaine ± Clonidine). The observations recorded were, time of onset of anaesthesia, hemodynamic parameters, blood loss during procedure and duration of post operative analgesia.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

The statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 16 software.

RESULTS

A statistically significant difference was seen in blood loss, being higher in group I and duration of anaesthesia, being shortest in group I. There was no statistical difference between the three groups amongst other parameters.

CONCLUSION

Adrenaline at 10 μg/ml and clonidine at 15 μg/ml can be safely used as additives with lignocaine, in maxillary infiltration anaesthesia for dental extraction; with addition of either of these two drugs, having an equal advantage over use of plain lignocaine; in terms of lower blood loss and longer duration of anaesthesia; but, with no difference in the onset of anaesthesia and with no significant hemodynamic changes.

Managing older patients who have neurologic disease: Alzheimer disease and cerebrovascular accident

Neurologic diseases represent some of the most common disabling and costly conditions in older age. Alzheimer disease and cerebrovascular accidents (strokes) are two of the most common neurologic conditions, and represent the leading causes of nursing home placement. Dental professionals will be caring for older patients who have age-associated neurologic diseases, including Alzheimer disease and stroke because of the increased longevity of the United States population coupled with improved survivorship of these conditions as a result of advanced medical diagnosis and treatment. Understanding the clinical manifestations of these two common, but distinctly different, neurologic conditions will enable dental professionals to provide safe and rational dental care.

Surgical and nonsurgical endodontic treatment-induced stress

This observational study compared physiologic and psychological indicators of stress between two groups of 30 healthy patients undergoing either surgical or nonsurgical endodontic treatments. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure were monitored during care sessions. The patients were asked to score their anxiety before treatment and to report pain, stress, and/or discomfort experienced during care. Variations in HR and SBP were significantly dependent on treatment group (HR: F = 6, p < 0.001; SBP: F = 4, p = 0.05). Intergroup differences increased during the active steps of the treatment, such as local anesthesia, rotary instrumentation, periradicular curettage, root filling, and field removal. Moreover, the level of stress experienced during the care procedure was correlated to the level of anticipated anxiety in both groups. This study raises questions on the indications for anxiolysis or sedation in endodontic patients as a means of preventing the neurophysiologic consequences of stress.

Cardiovascular Alterations After Injection of 2% Lidocaine With Norepinephrine 1:50,000 (Xylestesin) in Rats

The purpose of the present study is to determine the cardiovascular effects produced by intravascular injection of 2% lidocaine with 20 microg/mL of norepinephrine on systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures and heart rate of rats at the following times: control period, during the injection (first 15 seconds), during the first minute, and at the end of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 minutes after drug administration. The study was performed on 13 male Wistar rats with weights between 200 grams and 220 grams that were awake during the recording of these parameters. The dose administered was proportional to 1 cartridge of local anesthetic (1.8 mL) in an average-size human, which is equivalent to 0.51 mg/kg of lidocaine hydrochloride and 0.51 microg/kg of norepinephrine hydrochloride. The average time of injection was 15.7 seconds. The results of this study showed significant increases in systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure and a noticeable decrease in heart rate. The greatest variation occurred in the systolic blood pressure. The greatest alterations occurred during injection and within the first minute following administration of the anesthetic solution. We would anticipate these changes in the parameters analyzed to be clinically significant. Thus, dentists using 2% lidocaine with norepinephrine 20 mug/mL should be very careful to avoid intravascular injection.

Effect of anesthetics containing lidocaine and epinephrine on cardiovascular changes during dental implant surgery

The purpose of this study was to evaluate cardiovascular changes during dental implant surgery using 2% lidocaine with 1:80 000 epinephrine. Eleven normotensive subjects, ranging from 18 to 56 years, were selected to undergo dental implant surgery in the jaw. They were monitored in the pre-, intra-, and postsurgical periods by continuous noninvasive automatic arterial pressure and cardiac frequency measurements taken every 2 minutes. Parameter scores were obtained for the following phases: P1, 15 minutes during preparation of the patient (control period); P2, before anesthesia; P3, immediately after anesthesia; P4, 2 minutes into anesthesia; P5, during incision and detachment; P6, during perforation; P7, during implant placement; P8, during suturing; P9, on completion; and P10, 10 minutes after termination. Individualized statistical analysis for each group during the pre-, intra-, and postoperative periods were performed by analysis of variance. The greatest variations in systolic pressure were increases of 2.29% during phase P2 and 2.59% in phase P5. Diastolic pressure decreased during phase P6 (-2.58%) and increased in P10 (3.27%). The greatest changes in heart rate occurred in phase P10 (-3.24%). There were no statistically significant changes among the evaluated phases (P > .05). In conclusion, there were no changes in the analyzed cardiocirculatory parameters during dental implant surgery (systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures and heart rate) in normotensive subjects anesthetized with 2% lidocaine with epinephrine 1:80000.

The pharmacokinetics and cardiovascular effects of high-dose articaine with 1:100,000 and 1:200,000 epinephrine

OBJECTIVES

The authors conducted a randomized, double-blind, two-way crossover clinical trial to compare the pharmacokinetics and cardiovascular effects of 11.9 milliliters of 4 percent articaine hydrochloride (HCl) plus 1:100,000 epinephrine (A100) with those of 11.9 mL of 4 percent articaine HCl plus 1:200,000 epinephrine (A200).

METHODS

During two testing sessions, the authors administered injections of A100 and A200 over a seven-minute period (in one-cartridge doses unless otherwise noted): maxillary right first molar infiltration, maxillary left first molar infiltration, maxillary right first premolar infiltration, maxillary left first premolar infiltration, right inferior alveolar injection, left inferior alveolar injection, right long buccal infiltration (one-half cartridge) and left long buccal infiltration (one-half cartridge). They analyzed venous blood samples for articaine levels. They used noninvasive acoustic tonometry to measure a variety of cardiovascular parameters over a two-hour period.

RESULTS

Plasma concentration curves of articaine over time were similar for both solutions, with peak concentrations and times to maximum concentration being 2,037 nanograms per milliliter and 22 minutes for A100 and 2,145 ng/mL and 22 minutes for A200. At the 10-minute point, the mean systolic blood pressure and heart rate were significantly elevated (P < .05) with A100 versus A200.

CONCLUSIONS

Maximum dose recommendations for the A100 solution also can be applied to the A200 solution. A200 produces less cardiovascular stimulation than does A100.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

A200 is as safe as A100, and may be preferable to A100 in patients with cardiovascular disease and in those taking drugs that reportedly enhance the systemic effects of epinephrine.

The effects of epinephrine in local anesthetics on plasma catecholamine and hemodynamic responses

In order to clarify the influence of epinephrine in local anesthetics on endogenous epinephrine, we examined the concentration of plasma catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine) and hemodynamics by administering 4 ml of 2% lidocaine containing different concentrations of epinephrine. Forty-three healthy adult male volunteers were divided into five groups according to epinephrine concentration: 0-microg (group I), 10-microg (group II), 20-microg (group III), 40-microg (group IV), and 50-microg (group V). The parameters were examined immediately, and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, and 20 min after the injection. In groups II, III, IV, and V, the plasma epinephrine concentration was elevated to peak at 5 min after the injection, after which it started to decline. The amount of increase in the plasma epinephrine concentration at 5 min showed a highly positive correlation with the amount of epinephrine added to the local anesthetic in groups II, III, and IV. In group V the plasma epinephrine concentration showed a marked increase as compared to the baseline level. Plasma norepinephrine concentrations were found to be significantly elevated at 15 and 20 min in group V. A decrease in systolic blood pressure was observed at 4 and 5 min in group II. A decrease in diastolic blood pressure was observed at 5 min in group II; at 3, 4, and 5 min in group IV; and at 2, 3, 4, and 5 min in group V. Heart rate revealed no significant differences from baseline level in any of the groups and there were no significant differences among the groups. It is suggested that exogenous epinephrine added to a local anesthetic may stimulate the presynaptic beta2 receptors on sympathetic nerve endings and on the adrenomedulla, and accelerate the release of endogenous epinephrine.

Assessment of cardiovascular parameters during dental procedures under the effect of benzodiazepines: a double blind study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate cardiovascular parameters during dental procedures: systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures, and heart rate. Nineteen healthy normotensive patients (18-56 years of age) received restorative treatment on three maxillary molars. The patients were continuously monitored by a non-invasive automatic monitor for blood pressure and heart rate during the pre-, trans-, and post-operative periods at the following stages: 15 min prior to anesthesia; during topical anesthesia; during infiltrative anesthesia; for 5 minutes immediately after; during cavity preparation; during restorative procedure; for 10 min after completion. Patients were divided into three groups: A (without pre-medication), B (preceded by 10 mg diazepam), and C (preceded by placebo). All patients received infiltrative anesthesia containing 1.8 mL of 2% lidocaine (36 mg) with epinephrine 1:100,000 (18 µg). There were no changes in the parameters during the clinical procedures. When groups were compared, there were significant differences in diastolic arterial pressures during anesthesia.

Cardiovascular response to epinephrine-containing local anesthesia in patients with cardiovascular disease

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the present study was to examine the safety of epinephrine-containing local anesthesia for use on patients with cardiovascular disease.

STUDY DESIGN

Twenty-seven patients with cardiovascular disease were studied. The cardiac functional capacity of 9 patients was New York Heart Association class I; 11, class II; and 7, class III. Hemodynamic responses to intraoral injection of 1.8 mL of 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine were measured with impedance cardiography.

RESULTS

Systolic blood pressure and heart rate increased by 4.1% and 5.1%, respectively, immediately after the lidocaine-epinephrine injection. Consequently, rate pressure product increased by 10.0%. Cardiac index increased by 14.2%, and total peripheral resistance decreased by approximately 10%. No patient complained of cardiac symptoms. There were no significant differences in hemodynamic responses related to the extent of the cardiac functional capacity.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that lidocaine-epinephrine was safe and had few, if any, hemodynamic consequences in patients with cardiovascular disease.