Dental Extraction Pre-Cardiac Surgery Can Be Risky

(HealthDay News) — For patients with planned dental extraction before cardiac surgery, the risk of a major adverse outcome is 8%, including a 3% risk of death before surgery, according to a study published in the March issue of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

Mark M. Smith, MD, from the Mayo Clinic of Medicine in Rochester, MN, and colleagues examined the risk of major adverse outcomes in patients undergoing dental extraction before cardiovascular surgery. In a retrospective review, 205 patients were identified who underwent 208 dental extractions before 206 planned cardiac operations.

The researchers found that 8% of patients experienced a major adverse outcome. In the 30 days after dental extraction, 6% of patients died: 3% before and 3% after cardiac surgery.

“Our recommendation is for individualized analysis of perceived benefit of dental extraction before cardiac operation weighed against the risk of morbidity and mortality as observed in our series,” the authors write. “Future prospective studies are needed to better determine optimal recommendations for dental extraction before planned cardiac operation.”

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