Parapharyngeal Schwannoma of the Mandibular Nerve Associated With Auditory Changes.

We present a case of a parapharyngeal schwannoma of the mandibular nerve with intraosseous extension into the mandible. The initial symptoms included decreased auditory acuity, with subsequent magnetic resonance imaging findings suggestive of Eustachian tube obstruction. This represents a rare symptom of schwannomas of the mandibular nerve.

Dexmedetomidine sedation for awake fiberoptic intubation of patients with difficult airways due to severe odontogenic cervicofacial infections.

Purpose: Odontogenic infections present challenging airway scenarios to surgeons and anesthesiologists. Among specialists, there is controversy over airway management for those patients with airways made difficult by trismus and swelling with anatomic impingement and derangement. Awake fiberoptic intubation has achieved favor in the oral and maxillofacial surgery and anesthesiology communities for management of such difficult airways, but patient comfort and anxiety management with traditional agents may prove hazardous because of potential suppression of protective mechanisms and respiratory depression.

The role of automated external defibrillators in dental practice.

Dental practices are seeing an increasing number of elderly and medically compromised patients, making it likely that staff will be called upon to respond to medical emergencies in the office, including cardiac arrest. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests account for nearly half of all cardiovascular deaths in the United States. In adult cardiac arrest victims, the most frequent cause of sudden cardiac arrest is ventricular dysrhythmia, either ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.

Peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor associated with the anterior mandible: a case report and review of the literature.

Neuroectodermal tumors may arise in many places throughout the body including the diverse tissues of the head and neck. The primitive neuroectodermal tumor is a predominately neural, nonepithelial neoplasm similar to Ewing sarcoma. This article describes an 18-year-old female patient with a highly malignant peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor located in the soft tissue anterior to the mandibular symphysis.

Review of antihypertensive agents for the dental clinician.

Hypertension remains a major health problem in modern society. Untreated or undertreated hypertension is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality owing [table: see text] to chronic complications such as cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease and renal disease. Comorbidities for cardiovascular disease include diabetes, renal insufficiency and a family history of premature cardiovascular events.