RESUMEN
The use of pneumatic tourniquets during the harvest of free flaps is an established practice in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Their use can be associated with severe but preventable complications, for which operating surgeons are ultimately responsible. The aim of this study was to find any pitfalls concerning the safe use of tourniquets by maxillofacial surgeons. An electronic questionnaire based on the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) guidelines was distributed to maxillofacial surgeons nationally. A total of 37 questionnaires were completed and analysed. The mean (range) score for the knowledge-based questions for all respondents was 72.8% (47.3%-94.7%). The number of clinicians who answered correctly on topics relating to cuff position, reperfusion time and contraindications for the use of tourniquets were 15, 10 and 6, respectively. A total of 35 clinicians had had no formal training on the application of a tourniquet. Our study shows that knowledge about their use by maxillofacial surgeons is poor, and it highlights the importance of formal education during basic and higher surgical training.
Asunto(s)
Cirugía Bucal , Torniquetes , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Humanos , Cirujanos Oromaxilofaciales/psicología , Encuestas y CuestionariosAsunto(s)
Pastas de Dientes , Dulces , Goma de Mascar , Niño , Aromatizantes , Humanos , Pastas de Dientes/efectos adversosRESUMEN
Radiation therapy for oral carcinoma is therapeutically useful in dose of at least 6000 cGy but causes mucositis that severely interferes with oral function. The literature indicates that honey appears to promote wound healing, so the authors investigated whether its anti-inflammatory properties might limit the severity of radiation-induced oral mucositis. A single-blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial was carried out to compare the mucositis-limiting qualities of honey with lignocaine. A visual assessment scale permitted scoring of degrees of mucositis and statistical evaluation of the results was performed using the χ(2) test. Only 1 of 20 patients in the honey group developed intolerable oral mucositis compared with the lignocaine group, indicating that honey is strongly protective (RR=0.067) against the development of mucositis. The proportion of patients with intolerable oral mucositis was lower in the honey group and this was statistically significant (p=0.000). Honey applied topically to the oral mucosa of patients undergoing radiation therapy appears to provide a distinct benefit by limiting the severity of mucositis. Honey is readily available, affordable and well accepted by patients making it useful for improving the quality of life in irradiated patients.