title: Hypoxemia due to inserting a bite block in severely handicapped patients.
abstract: In severely handicapped patients with severe cerebral palsy, stridor can be caused by a bite block in the mouth. So that dental treatment can be performed safely for these patients, the effect of a bite block on the respiratory function of 30 severely handicapped patients was investigated with two pulse oximeters. Of the 30 subjects examined, 96.7% showed SpO2 values above 95% in the resting state, and 26.7% showed SpO2 values under 94% after insertion of a small or middle-sized bite block. Patients who did not show SpO2 decrease while using a small bite block did have deterioration of SpO2 values when a middle-sized bite block was used. According to analysis by AIC, patients whose weight was less tha 20 kg, who were shorter than 130 cm, and who were more severely handicapped tended to have a deterioration of breathing function when using a bite block
authors.affiliation: Matsumoto Dental College, Department of Dentistry for the Handicapped, Nagano, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogasawara
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hosaka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kasahara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D002547:Cerebral Palsy; D002648:Child; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology*; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009064:Mouth Protectors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010092:Oximetry / Q000295:instrumentation; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000009:adverse effects; D012135:Respiratory Sounds