- Hyperventilation / Panic Attack
Stop the procedure
Reassure the patient calmly
Keep them upright and encourage slow breathing
Drug management if needed (only after assessing severity)
- Syncope (Fainting)
Lay the patient flat with legs elevated (Trendelenburg position)
Maintain airway and check pulse
Monitor recovery and provide reassurance
- Anaphylaxis
Stop all procedures immediately
Administer oxygen
Give adrenaline 0.5 mg IM (0.5 ml of 1:1,000 concentration)
Support airway, breathing, and circulation — refer to emergency services
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Yes a dentist should be prepared to manage these emergencies since all three of these are very common.
in case of hyperventilation, you can ask the patient to breathe into paper bag or something similar too.
in case of syncope change the chair position, recline to achieve supine position with head down.
anaphylaxis management will differ according to the consciousness of the patient.
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Another important emergency is Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)
Seen in diabetic patients
Signs: confusion, sweating, shakiness, loss of consciousness
Response: Give oral glucose if conscious; emergency services if unconscious
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yes, hence we should always take Medical history before surgical procedures.
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Thats true and we need to have all the emergency drug and emergency contact as well.
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Good topic! Thanks for bringing it to the attention. Just thinking of any situation where a patient’s BP might shoot up , particularly when patient is already hypertensive.
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It is always important to ask medical history to the patients in all possible form. Patients never tell thier full history. Ask if they’re hypertensive, do they take any medications, any recent hospitalization, last medical checkup and every possible questions, n number of times to get their full history.
Epilepsy could also be considered. Even asthmatic attack!
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