Knowledge of local anesthetics anaphylaxis among dental practitioners in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Abstract

Background: Anaphylaxis is an acutely presenting life-threatening medical emergency. Studies have shown that dentists feel inadequately able to recognize and treat anaphylaxis. This study aims to determine the level of knowledge of local anesthetic (LA) anaphylaxis among dentists in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital.

Methods: This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among dental practitioners at the Dental complex of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria from August 2020 to January 2021. The questionnaire consisted of 21 items divided into four main sections: (1) Demographic characteristics, (2) general knowledge on local anesthetic anaphylaxis, (3) knowledge on signs and symptoms of local anesthetic anaphylaxis, (4) knowledge on treatment of local anesthetic anaphylaxis. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0, IBM, Armonk, NY, USA.

Results: The 101 respondents approached agreed to participate in the study. There were more males (64.4%) compared to females. Majority of the respondents were aged 30 -39 years. None of the respondents knew completely all the signs and symptoms of anaphylactic reaction from LA. None of the respondents got the complete drugs to be kept in the office for LA anaphylaxis. Less than half (43.6%) of the respondents knew that epinephrine is the drug of first choice for anaphylactic reactions. Only 50 (49.5%) of the respondents knew that the best route for epinephrine administration is intramuscular route.

Conclusion: Adequate knowledge on anaphylaxis from local anesthesia is lacking among dental practitioners in our centre.