Affiliations: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Tetsuya Miyashita, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura Kanazawa, Yokohama City, 236-0004, Japan. Tel.: +81 45 787 2918; Fax: +81 45 787 2916; E-mail:[email protected]
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIM: Penetrating injuries to the oral cavity involving a
toothbrush are relatively common among children. Sometimes general
anesthesia is recommended. Although the handle prevents adequate mask
ventilation in the induction of anesthesia, it is unknown what is the best
tool to cut it preventing complications. The aim of this study was to
evaluate the optimal tool to cut off the toothbrush handle.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six anesthesiologists participated in this
study. We attached a triaxial acceleration sensor to the tip of the
toothbrush to virtually measure force toward the wound. Each participant cut
off the handle of the toothbrush using 3 tools: Gluck rib shears (GRS:
cutting horizonal); Sklar Coryllos rib shears (SCRS: cutting vertical); and
an ultrasonic scalpel (USS). Acceleration and time required to cut the
toothbrush were measured. Each anesthesiologist evaluated the usability of
each tool on a 5-point scale.
RESULTS: The USS showed the longest mean time (GRS, 1.78 ±
1.01 s; SCRS, 7.30 ± 4.58 s; USS, 28.13 ± 13.41 s), lowest
3-dimensional acceleration (GRS, 2.15 ± 0.69 G; SCRS, 2.13 ± 0.57
G; USS, 1.01 ± 1.07 G), and highest mean score for usability.
CONCLUSION: The USS appeared preferable to rib shears for cutting
off toothbrush handles, even though it takes longer.
