Vital Signs of the Emergency Patient with Pulpal Necrosis and Localized Acute Apical Abscess

Chad A Campanelli; Richard E Walton; Anne E Williamson; David R Drake; Fang Qian

doi:10.1016/j.joen.2007.11.022

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Vital Signs of the Emergency Patient with Pulpal Necrosis and Localized Acute Apical Abscess

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Vital Signs of the Emergency Patient with Pulpal Necrosis and Localized Acute Apical Abscess

Chad A Campanelli, Richard E Walton, Anne E Williamson, David R Drake and Fang Qian

Journal of endodontics, Vol.34(3), pp.264-267

2008

DOI: 10.1016/j.joen.2007.11.022

PMID: 18291272

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Abstract

Vital signs aid in assessing patient health and the disease severity. The objectives of this study were to determine changes in vital signs of patients with pulpal necrosis (PN) and acute apical abscess (AAA). The vital signs measured at the emergency visit were blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and lymphadenopathy. Visual analogue scales (VASs) were used to assess (1) pain and (2) malaise. Emergency treatment was rendered. At a subsequent (baseline) visit and with clinical symptoms resolved, systemic vital sign measurements and VASs were repeated. The presence or absence of swelling with vital signs and VASs of pain and swelling were compared. Compared with baseline, data showed no marked elevation in temperature, blood pressure, or lymphadenopathy, regardless of presence or absence of swelling. VAS measurements of pain and malaise did show statistically significant higher numbers at the emergency appointment, indicating a difference from baseline. Swelling versus no swelling did not differ. Vital signs were not impacted by localized AAA, although pain and malaise were greater. Vital signs might not be useful determinants of treatment or pharmacotherapeutic measures with localized AAA.

emergency

Acute apical abscess

vital signs

malaise

Details

Title: Subtitle: Vital Signs of the Emergency Patient with Pulpal Necrosis and Localized Acute Apical Abscess
Creators: Chad A Campanelli - Department of Endodontics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Richard E Walton - Department of Endodontics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Anne E Williamson - Department of Endodontics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
David R Drake - Department of Endodontics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Fang Qian - Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of endodontics, Vol.34(3), pp.264-267
DOI: 10.1016/j.joen.2007.11.022
PMID: 18291272
NLM abbreviation: J Endod
ISSN: 0099-2399
eISSN: 1878-3554
Publisher: Elsevier Inc
Language: English
Date published: 2008
Academic Unit: Preventive and Community Dentistry; Endodontics; Family Dentistry; Dental Research
Record Identifier: 9984065983202771

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