zzyzx Posted October 8, 2008 Posted October 8, 2008 Here's a call I ran last month. We responded to a "seizure" at a dentist's office. When we got there, one of the dental assistants led us to one of the rooms where the patient was laying in his chair. "I think he had a seizure, but he's unresponsive now and I don't think he's breathing." You look down at the patient, and he is quite obviously in cardiac arrest. Downtime unclear. The staff did not realize that he was dead. The patient is a 35 y/o male. Normal build, no medical history, no meds. Came into the office for a toothache and was given a local anesthetic (epi/lidocaine) during the procedure. You later find out that he'd complained to his brother about not feeling well all day. When you patch him up, he's in PEA. Resuscitation efforts are unsuccessful. Any thoughts on what killed him?
firedoc5 Posted October 8, 2008 Posted October 8, 2008 The anesthetic was only local, no gas? I'd say the anesthetic with an underlying undiagnosed cardiac problem or even anaphylaxis.
Happiness Posted October 8, 2008 Posted October 8, 2008 I just recently got a new dentist and in the paper they gave me one of the questions was "have you ever had heart murmmer" I asked him and he said that the local freezing can cause heart attacks.
Richard B the EMT Posted October 8, 2008 Posted October 8, 2008 My mother is one of many who exhibits an elevated HR and BP when given a Novocaine shot. Perhaps this might be a contributing factor in that death?
ERDoc Posted October 8, 2008 Posted October 8, 2008 Any thoughts on what killed him? Cardiopumonary arrest.
Richard B the EMT Posted October 8, 2008 Posted October 8, 2008 AMI brought on by Novocaine injection? (Sticking to my guns!)
firedoc5 Posted October 8, 2008 Posted October 8, 2008 It seems like I remember something about a dentist accidently injected the anesthetic into a vein and it caused some problems. I've had it done to me before but nothing happened other than a funky pain going all throughout my face and head. But in certain patients it can cause convulsions and other cardiac problems.
Arizonaffcep Posted October 8, 2008 Posted October 8, 2008 Actually, if the dentist does any kind of conscious sedation stuff...look at pupils...they like to use narcs and benzos for sedation. My wife has run several of "these" calls from an office in south Scottsdale...and of course, they do it without a cardiac monitor... :shock:
Recommended Posts