Medical Emergencies · single question
A patient is referred 2 weeks before heart surgery and needs restorations and extractions. What will you do?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Perform restorations AND extractions before surgery
Perform restorations AND extractions before surgery (A). Pre-cardiac surgery dental clearance is critically important. Active dental infections and untreated significant dental disease can seed bacteria during surgery → endocarditis, prosthetic valve infection.
• 2 weeks is adequate time for basic healing before elective cardiac surgery for routine extractions and restorations.
• Priority before cardiac surgery: eliminate all active infections, extract hopeless/infected teeth, treat advanced caries that could become infected, ensure healthy oral status.
• If extractions are within 2 weeks of surgery, surgical team needs to be notified so antibiotic/bleeding protocols are coordinated.
• After surgery (D): delays could mean the patient has untreated oral disease during surgery — unacceptable risk.
• Work closely with the patient's cardiologist for timing coordination.
• 2 weeks is adequate time for basic healing before elective cardiac surgery for routine extractions and restorations.
• Priority before cardiac surgery: eliminate all active infections, extract hopeless/infected teeth, treat advanced caries that could become infected, ensure healthy oral status.
• If extractions are within 2 weeks of surgery, surgical team needs to be notified so antibiotic/bleeding protocols are coordinated.
• After surgery (D): delays could mean the patient has untreated oral disease during surgery — unacceptable risk.
• Work closely with the patient's cardiologist for timing coordination.
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