Hemodynamic assessment of local anesthetic administration by laser Doppler flowmetry.
OBJECTIVE
The hemodynamic effects of local anesthetic administration with and without a vasoconstrictor were compared by using laser Doppler flowmetry.


METHODS
Seventeen people participated in a single study session in which they were given 2 intraoral injections. The injections, which were administered in random order, consisted of 1.8 mL lidocaine (2%) with epinephrine (1:100,000) and mepivacaine (3%). Hemodynamic parameters consisting of blood pressure, heart rate, and laser Doppler flowmetry were reordered at regular intervals.


RESULTS
The laser Doppler flowmeter detected changes in the peripheral perfusion of the finger that were not detected by changes in blood pressure and heart rate. The greatest change was associated with anxiety and occurred just before the injection. The inclusion of epinephrine in the local anesthetic resulted in a persistence of these changes.


CONCLUSIONS
This investigation has confirmed the sensitivity of laser Doppler flowmetry as an investigational tool for assessing hemodynamic changes associated with anxiety and the administration of local anesthesia.
Fernieini
E M
EM
School of Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030, USA.
Bennett
J D
JD
Silverman
D G
DG
Halaszynski
T M
TM
D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008619:Mepivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009407:Nerve Block; D010092:Oximetry; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D008012:Lidocaine; D008619:Mepivacaine; D004837:Epinephrine