Dentistry

Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral IV Cannulation Effective In Patients With Difficult IV Access

• byDoctor News Daily Team
• 18 February, 2025
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The application of ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous cannulation should be considered for patients with difficult intravenous access (DIVA) who require intravenous dental sedation or other common procedures in dental surgery that involve cannulation, according to a recent study published in the British Dental Journal.

Dental surgeons regularly provide intravenous dental sedation and oral/transmucosal sedation, which involves cannulation. Cannulation is an essential skill that dental surgeons should be competent to perform, but certain patient groups may be difficult to cannulate.

IV sedation dentistry is the deepest form of conscious sedation available in a dental office setting. Your healthcare provider delivers sedative medications directly to your bloodstream through an IV line. During your procedure, your dentist monitors your heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels. IV sedation works quickly, with most people falling asleep in roughly 15 to 30 minutes after it's been administered. Once the IV sedation is removed, you will begin to wake up in about 20 minutes and be fully recovered from all sedative effects within six hours. Ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous cannulation is an evidence-based technique already used in radiology, emergency medicine, and anaesthesia. Ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous cannulation has been shown to reduce complications and significantly increase the success of cannulation in patients with difficult intravenous access (DIVA); it may also be preferable in certain special care patient groups.
Thus, the researchers concluded that the application of ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous cannulation should be considered for patients with DIVA who require intravenous dental sedation or other common procedures in dental surgery that involve cannulation.
To summarize the study:
Discusses the potential future changes to the provision of dental sedation.
Discusses possible indications and contraindications of USG-PIVC for intravenous dental sedation.
Describes the method of USG-PIVC and current barriers to implementing USG-PIVC for intravenous dental sedation.
Reference:
Ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous cannulation for patients requiring dental surgery under intravenous dental sedation by Ishfaq Khan et al. published in the British Dental Journal.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-4133-x