Table of Contents:
  • pt. 1. Prevention. 1. Introduction : Morbidity ; Death ; Risk factors ; Classification of life-threatening situations ; Outline of specific emergency situations
  • 2. Prevention : Evaluation goals ; Physical evaluation ; Recognition of dental fear and anxiety
  • 3. Preparation : General information ; Emergency drug kits ; Module one: Critical (essential) emergency drugs and equipment ; Module two: Secondary (noncritical) emergency drugs and equipment ; Module three: Advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) ; Module four: Antidotal drugs ; Organization of the emergency drug kit ; Appendix: Parenteral administration of drugs
  • 4. Legal considerations : Modern liability insurance crises ; Theories of liability ; Emergency situations ; Limiting liability for emergencies
  • pt. 2. Unconsciousness. 5. Unconsciousness: general considerations
  • 6. Vasodepressor syncope
  • 7. Postural hypotension
  • 8. Acute adrenal insufficiency
  • 9. Unconsciousness: differential diagnosis : Age of patient ; Circumstances associated with loss of consciousness ; Position of the patient ; Presyncopal signs and symptoms.
  • pt. 3. Respiratory distress. 10. Respiratory distress: general considerations
  • 11. Foreign body airway obstruction : Incidence
  • 12. Hyperventilation
  • 13. Asthma
  • 14. Heart failure and acute pulmonary edema
  • 15. Respiratory distress: differential diagnosis : Medical history ; Age ; Sex ; Related circumstances ; Clinical symptoms between acute episodes ; Position ; Accompanying sounds ; Symptoms associated with respiratory distress ; Peripheral edema and cyanosis ; Paresthesia of the extremities ; Use of accessory respiratory muscles ; Chest pain ; Heart rate and blood pressure ; Duration of respiratory distress
  • pt. 4. Altered consciousness. 16. Altered consciousness: general considerations
  • 17. Diabetes mellitus: hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia : Acute complications ; Chronic complications ; Predisposing factors ; Classification of diabetes ; Hyperglycemia ; Hypoglycemia ; Control of diabetes ; Prevention ; Clinical manifestations ; Pathophysiology ; Management
  • 18. Thyroid gland dysfunction
  • 19. Cerebrovascular accident
  • 20. Altered consciousness: differential diagnosis : Medical history ; Age ; Sex ; Related circumstances ; Onset of signs and symptoms ; Presence of symptoms between acute episodes ; Loss of consciousness ; Signs and symptoms ; Vital signs.
  • pt. 5. Seizures. 21. Seizures : Types of seizure disorders ; Causes ; Predisposing factors ; Prevention ; Clinical manifestations ; Pathophysiology ; Management
  • pt. 6. Drug-related emergencies. 22. Drug-related emergencies: general considerations
  • 23. Drug overdose reactions : Local anesthetic overdose reaction ; Epinephrine (vasoconstrictor) overdose reaction ; Central nervous system depressant overdose reactions
  • 24. Allergy
  • 25. Drug-related emergencies: differential diagnosis : Medical history ; Age ; Sex ; Position ; Onset of signs and symptoms ; Prior exposure to drug ; Dose of drug administered ; Overall incidence of occurrence ; Signs and symptoms ; Vital signs
  • pt. 7. Chest pain. 26. Chest pain: general considerations
  • 27. Angina pectoris
  • 28. Acute myocardial infarction
  • 29. Chest pain: differential diagnosis : Noncardiac chest pain ; Cardiac chest pain
  • pt. 8. Cardiac arrest. 30. Cardiac arrest : Survival from sudden cardiac arrest ; The chain of survival ; The dental office ; Cardiopulmonary arrest ; Basic life support (CPR)
  • 31. Pediatric considerations
  • Appendix: Quick-reference section to life-threatening situations.