Clinical efficacy of preoperative oral care and professional dental treatments for the patients undergoing digestive surgery

Abstract

Oral care and dental treatments are believed to play the crucial role in the prevention of respiratory complications especially for the elderly patients. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of perioperative oral care and dental treatments for the digestive surgery patients. We enrolled 169 patients who visited Nagasaki Prefecture Shimabara Hospital from February 2011 to January 2012. Speech-language-hearing therapists gave patients oral check-ups and advices for self treatments at the first medical examinations, and referred to local dental clinics when diagnosed to require professional dental treatment. 54 patients were referred to dental clinics, and 49 cases received dental treatment. Twelve cases among 167 control cases who did not received oral check-up and professional dental treatment have developed postoperative respiratory complications, whereas only two cases among 169 intervention cases developed postoperative respiratory complications. This intervention study showed a significant reduction of the risk of postoperative respiratory complications. For hospitals that do not have department of dentistry preoperative oral care, professional dental treatments in collaboration with local dental clinics can be effective methods for the prevention of postoperative respiratory complications.