 |
NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
|
|
|
NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
|
Dental Anesthesia |
Hazards of accidentally swallowing novocaine04/17/2008 10:23PM |
My mother had a tooth extracted and while the dentist was injecting her with novocaine some of it accidentally leaked in her mouth causing her to swallow. After the procedure she developed laryngitis which has lasted for over one month. Two different doctors prescribed antibiotics, a steroid and sudafed to treat her for what they assumed was a sinus infection. My question is what are the hazards of injesting novocaine and can it cause laryngitis?
Generally, if the lidocaine gets into the hypopharynx (throat area), that area is topically anesthetized. It is not clear to me why this might cause laryngitis. If the vocal cords were anesthetized, perhaps there was vigorous coughing. I am not sure I can offer another explanation.
There is usually no lasting effects from swallowing lidocaine. In fact, anesthesiologists, like myself, INTENTIONALLY have the patient gargle with lidocaine, and some it is swallowed, in order to do some special techniques of placing a breathing tube. It is not clear that the lidocaine is the cause of this reaction. I suspect your ENT doctor could perform an indirect laryngoscopy to find out, but too much time may have elapsed at this point.
|
Steven I. Ganzberg, SB, DMD, MS Chief of Dental Anesthesiology Clinical Professor Section of Dental Anesthesiology College of Dentistry Nationwide Children's Hospital The Ohio State University |
|
|
|
Please note: only your personal physician or other health professional you consult can best advise you on matters of your health based on your medical history, your family medical history, your medication history, and how information from any of these databases may apply to you. Neither University of Cincinnati (NetWellness) nor any party involved in creating, producing or delivering this web site shall be liable for any damages arising out of access to or use of this web site, or any errors or omissions in the content thereof. (More) |