Background: Patients who report to be difficult to anesthetize for dental procedures are commonly encountered.Determining their frequency and shared characteristics could improve understanding of pain management failures. Methods: Categorical and continuous variables of 24 demographic, medical history, and dental history variables were compared in a deidentified cross-sectional study using electronic health records (EHR) of patients at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. Individuals who self-reported to be difficult to anesthetize in their dental health history form were compared to those who reported no complications with local anesthesia. Descriptive, univariate regression, and multivariable regression statistical analyses were completed on the demographic, medical history, and dental history EHR variables. Results: A total of 12,400 deidentified patient records met the inclusion criteria with a 11.4% (n = 1,411) prevalence of difficult to anesthetize self-reports. Eight categorical variables were found to have statistically significant (95% confidence interval [CI]) adjusted odds ratios (AOR) in the multivariable regression of difficult to anesthetize reporting patients: female gender (AOR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.32-1.96, P < 0.001), dental fear (AOR = 3.60, 95% CI: 3.01-4.31, P < 0.001), mental health disorders (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.00-1.46, P < 0.045), problems with general anesthesia (AOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.11-1.89, P = 0.005), neurologicalerve disorders (AOR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.05-1.60, P = 0.015), temporomandibular joint clicking/popping (AOR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.08-1.60, P = 0.006), needle anxiety (AOR = 29.03, 95% CI: 23.80-35.52, P < 0.001), and history of root canal treatment (AOR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.68-0.99, P = 0.035). Conclusion A clinically relevant percentage of patients self-reported being difficult to anesthetize for dental procedures. The relationship between local anesthesia inadequacies and variables such as female gender, dental fear, mental health, and neurological disorders requires further investigation. The use of evidence-based local anesthesia approaches and communication practices is suggested to minimize pain experienced and subsequent fear of dental care.

Background: Patients who report to be difficult to anesthetize for dental procedures are commonly encountered.Determining their frequency and shared characteristics could improve understanding of pain management failures. Methods: Categorical and continuous variables of 24 demographic, medical history, and dental history variables were compared in a deidentified cross-sectional study using electronic health records (EHR) of patients at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. Individuals who self-reported to be difficult to anesthetize in their dental health history form were compared to those who reported no complications with local anesthesia. Descriptive, univariate regression, and multivariable regression statistical analyses were completed on the demographic, medical history, and dental history EHR variables. Results: A total of 12,400 deidentified patient records met the inclusion criteria with a 11.4% (n = 1,411) prevalence of difficult to anesthetize self-reports. Eight categorical variables were found to have statistically significant (95% confidence interval [CI]) adjusted odds ratios (AOR) in the multivariable regression of difficult to anesthetize reporting patients: female gender (AOR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.32-1.96, P < 0.001), dental fear (AOR = 3.60, 95% CI: 3.01-4.31, P < 0.001), mental health disorders (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.00-1.46, P < 0.045), problems with general anesthesia (AOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.11-1.89, P = 0.005), neurologicalerve disorders (AOR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.05-1.60, P = 0.015), temporomandibular joint clicking/popping (AOR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.08-1.60, P = 0.006), needle anxiety (AOR = 29.03, 95% CI: 23.80-35.52, P < 0.001), and history of root canal treatment (AOR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.68-0.99, P = 0.035). Conclusion A clinically relevant percentage of patients self-reported being difficult to anesthetize for dental procedures. The relationship between local anesthesia inadequacies and variables such as female gender, dental fear, mental health, and neurological disorders requires further investigation. The use of evidence-based local anesthesia approaches and communication practices is suggested to minimize pain experienced and subsequent fear of dental care.

Background: Patients who report to be difficult to anesthetize for dental procedures are commonly encountered.Determining their frequency and shared characteristics could improve understanding of pain management failures. Methods: Categorical and continuous variables of 24 demographic, medical history, and dental history variables were compared in a deidentified cross-sectional study using electronic health records (EHR) of patients at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. Individuals who self-reported to be difficult to anesthetize in their dental health history form were compared to those who reported no complications with local anesthesia. Descriptive, univariate regression, and multivariable regression statistical analyses were completed on the demographic, medical history, and dental history EHR variables. Results: A total of 12,400 deidentified patient records met the inclusion criteria with a 11.4% (n = 1,411) prevalence of difficult to anesthetize self-reports. Eight categorical variables were found to have statistically significant (95% confidence interval [CI]) adjusted odds ratios (AOR) in the multivariable regression of difficult to anesthetize reporting patients: female gender (AOR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.32-1.96, P < 0.001), dental fear (AOR = 3.60, 95% CI: 3.01-4.31, P < 0.001), mental health disorders (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.00-1.46, P < 0.045), problems with general anesthesia (AOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.11-1.89, P = 0.005), neurologicalerve disorders (AOR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.05-1.60, P = 0.015), temporomandibular joint clicking/popping (AOR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.08-1.60, P = 0.006), needle anxiety (AOR = 29.03, 95% CI: 23.80-35.52, P < 0.001), and history of root canal treatment (AOR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.68-0.99, P = 0.035). Conclusion A clinically relevant percentage of patients self-reported being difficult to anesthetize for dental procedures. The relationship between local anesthesia inadequacies and variables such as female gender, dental fear, mental health, and neurological disorders requires further investigation. The use of evidence-based local anesthesia approaches and communication practices is suggested to minimize pain experienced and subsequent fear of dental care.

BACKGROUND: Lung nodules are frequently identified on imaging studies and can represent early lung cancers. We instituted the Lung Nodule Evaluation Team (LNET) to optimize management of these nodules by a lung specialist physician. All lung nodules identified by a radiologist prompted a direct consultation to this service. We report our initial experience with this process. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of patients with lung nodules at a single institution from 2008 to 2015. Since October 2014, lung nodules >3 mm identified on computed tomography (CT) scanning of the chest generate an automatic consult to LNET from the radiology service. Demographic, nodule and follow up data was entered into a surveillance database and summarized. RESULTS: There were 1,873 patients identified in the database. Of these, 900 patients were undergoing active surveillance. Consults increased from 5.5 to 93 per month after the start of the new consult program. Lung nodules were identified on 64% of chest CT scans. Prior to the direct radiology consult the average size of a nodule was 1.7 cm and 0.7 cm after. The overall time from initial nodule imaging to initiating a management plan by a thoracic specialist physician was 3.7 days. CONCLUSIONS Assessment of lung nodules by a specialist physician is important to ensure appropriate long term management and optimize utilization of diagnostic interventions. A direct radiology consult to a specialized team of chest physicians decreased the time in initiating a management plan, identified smaller nodules and may lead to a more judicious use of health care resources in the management of lung nodules.
Hospitals, Veterans ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; therapy ; Quality Assurance, Health Care ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tumor Burden