Postoperative complications after dental extraction in liver pretransplant patients

Hemorrhagic complications in individuals with liver disease submitted to minor oral surgery

Individuals with chronic liver disease (CLD) have an increased risk of bleeding from thrombocytopenia and changes in hemostasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of and the factors associated with the occurrence of bleeding in CLD patients who underwent dental surgical procedures. This was a retrospective study whose data were collected in a hospital dentistry service between 2010 and 2016. The patients were referred from the gastroenterology and liver transplantation services of a university hospital for dental treatment. The study followed the STROBE guidelines. Among the 71 surgical procedures performed, there were 17 (24%) perioperative and postoperative bleeding episodes, 14 of which were in pretransplant patients and 11 received blood transfusion before dental surgery. Individuals with a previous history of bleeding (PR = 2.67, CI = 1.07-6.67, P = 0.035) and those with a platelet count before surgery 50 × 109/l or less (PR = 7.48, CI = 1.70-32.86, P = 0.008) had a higher prevalence of perioperative and postoperative bleeding episodes than their peers without a previous history of bleeding, and those with platelet count greater than 50 × 109/l. The approach to individuals with CLD is complex and represents a challenge to the clinician. A careful anamnesis combined with laboratory screening of coagulation disorders appears to be useful to identify individuals at a major risk of bleeding. Studies identifying the predisposing factors of bleeding in CLD patients support well tolerated protocols for oral surgery in this group.

Bleeding disorders in implant dentistry: a narrative review and a treatment guide

Purpose

Considering a high prevalence of congenital and especially acquired bleeding disorders, their heterogeneity and the multitude of possible treatments strategies, a review of the scientific data on this topic is needed to implement a treatment guide for healthcare professionals.

Methods

A selective literature review was performed via PubMed for articles describing oral surgery / dental implant procedures in patients with congenital and acquired bleeding disorders. Out of the existing literature, potential treatment algorithms were extrapolated.

Results

In order to assess the susceptibility to bleeding, risk stratification can be used for both congenital and acquired coagulation disorders. This risk stratification, together with an appropriate therapeutic pathway, allows for an adequate and individualized therapy for each patient. A central point is the close interdisciplinary cooperation with specialists. In addition to the discontinuation or replacement of existing treatment modalities, local hemostyptic measures are of primary importance. If local measures are not sufficient, systemically administered substances such as desmopressin and blood products have to be used.

Conclusions

Despite the limited evidence, a treatment guide could be developed by means of this narrative review to improve safety for patients and practitioners. Prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to allow the implementation of official evidence-based guidelines.

The association between oral health status and the clinical outcome of cirrhotic patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation

Liver transplantation (LT) candidates often present with poor oral hygiene, which could potentially lead to systemic infections and sepsis owing to their cirrhotic state. In this study, we investigated the oral health status of LT candidates and propose guidance for the detection and treatment of encountered oral lesions among these patients. The decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index was determined through oral examination. The presence of dental calculus was detected using panoramic radiography and defined by the radiopaque dental calculus (RDC). From January 2011 to August 2018, 56 LT candidates were enrolled with a median follow-up of 39 months. The overall mean numbers of decayed, missing, and filled teeth among these patients were 2.7 ± 2.8, 10.9 ± 8.3, and 5.4 ± 4.5, respectively. Eighteen patients (32.1%) had RDC. The 5-year survival rates of all 56 patients was 57.7%, while that of those who either received LT (23 patients) or not were 82.1% and 39.8%, respectively. A Cox regression model revealed better overall survival of patients after LT (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.067, p = 0.001), worse survival among patients with RDC (aHR = 3.468, p = 0.010), at Child-Pugh stages B and C (aHR for stage B = 11.889, p = 0.028; aHR for stage C = 19.257, p = 0.013) compared to patients at Child-Pugh stage A, and those with a model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score ≥25 (aHR = 13.721, p = 0.018). This study demonstrates that RDC was associated with worse prognosis in LT candidates. We therefore recommend that interprofessional collaboration should be a routine preoperative procedure for the evaluation of oral hygiene among LT candidates.

Is It Safe to Remove Teeth in Liver Transplant Patients Without Antibiotics? A Retrospective Study of 346 Patients

PURPOSE

Eradication of oral infectious foci is essential for liver transplant candidates. The main issue is whether antibiotic prophylaxis is necessary for all dental extractions despite the possible fostering of resistant bacteria. To overcome the scarcity of evidence-based data, our study analyzed the background and outcomes of a large number of routine extractions performed in our institution without antibiotic prophylaxis in patients with different liver pathologies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, the outcome of interest was the occurrence of local infections and minor complications during the 7-day follow-up period after extraction; the predictors were the demographic and clinical variables of the patients (age, gender, liver pathology, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, international normalized ratio) and the extraction variables (single vs multiple extractions, isolated vs contiguous teeth, single-rooted vs multirooted teeth). The statistical analysis used univariate nonparametric tests and binary multivariate logistic regressions.

RESULTS

The 346 liver transplant candidates (mean age, 53 ± 8 years; 24% women) underwent 662 routine extraction sessions involving 1,329 teeth. The 7-day dental follow-up detected no signs of postoperative wound infection (rate = 0% [95% confidence interval (CI), 0 to 0.9%]). Accordingly, the 2-week post-extraction clinical monitoring excluded symptoms of systemic infection attributable to the dental procedure. Minor complications (mild bleeding, slow healing, inflamed socket) occurred in 50 patients (rate = 14% [95% CI, 11 to 18%]) in the 3 days after extraction. Significant risk factors for minor complications were refractory ascites (P < .0001; OR = 8 [95% CI, 3 to 20]), extraction of multirooted contiguous teeth (P < 0.0001; OR = 5 [95% CI, 2.5 to 9]), and a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score greater than 18 (P = 0.01; OR = 2.4 [95% CI, 1.2 to 5]).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that routine extractions without antibiotic prophylaxis can be performed safely in liver transplant candidates, even in the presence of 1 or more non-controllable risk factors. Using atraumatic techniques, we achieved satisfactory healing of the gingiva and socket in all patients in a week, without any signs of local infection. The few minor complications were readily managed and resolved within 3 days after extraction.

Development of Routine Dental Care for Liver Transplant Outpatients

BACKGROUND

Liver transplantation has become commonplace for patients with end-stage liver disease. The liver is a bodily organ of great importance, and its dysfunction can cause significant complications throughout the body. Patients with hepatic disease should be able to acquire knowledge of the physiology of the liver via the dental profession, and it is also necessary to modify some aspects of dental treatment even in healthy patients. Problems such as excessive bleeding and hepatotoxicity caused by some of the drugs used in dental treatment can lead to a decrease in systemic health. Otherwise, patients with liver disease will have poorer oral health than the general population. Thus, it is important to have well-established routine dental care in this patient group and offer management of oral health in view of the effects of liver disease.

METHODS

The objective of this work was to undertake a bibliographic review of the dental approaches to patients with liver disease and liver transplant recipients and to propose a dental care routine for such patients in an outpatient setting.

RESULTS

A search was carried out on the main scientific databases (PubMed, Medline, and SciELO) for publications related to this subject and, particularly those published after 2010. The articles selected describe poor oral hygiene among patients, independent of the etiology of their liver disease. These patients also had a high index of xerostomia, caries, periodontal disease, apical lesions, and fungical infections. To control bleeding during and after surgery, hemostatic measures must be understood and adopted.

CONCLUSION

There are no data about routine dental care among liver disease/transplantation patients. Thus, our findings will hopefully encourage other services to structure their approaches and consider enhancing their dental care protocols for patients with liver-related complications.