Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 8/31/2009

Question
what can a dentist use when he needs to do oral surgery. 8 impacted teeth. my daughter was on vent. for 8 hrs. when taking sux

Answer
Are you talking about an oral surgeon? Generally oral surgeons do not paralyze and intubate patients (although some have additional training to do so). Regardless, if your daughter has pseudocholinesterase deficiency (PD), they would have no way to know it in advance. It is very important for you to get a medic alert bracelet for her (or at least tell all her future anesthesiologists about this). If she was paralyzed for 8 hours then she probably has the worst type of PD. Furthermore, each of your other family members (you, your husband, both your parents and your other kids) should probably be tested for it also as it is hereditary.

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston