News from ABSMIDS | Value-Added Course on “Safe Sedation and Emergency Management in Pediatric Dentistry”

The Department of Pediatric & Preventive Dentistry, ABSMIDS introduced a Value-Added Course on “Safe Sedation and Emergency Management in Pediatric Dentistry”. The 32-hour course is split into four modules comprising of both lectures and hands-on training and will be conducted in association with the Dept. of Anesthesiology, KS Hegde Medical Academy in the month of October each year for a period of 4 days, which is inclusive of AHA Certified Basic Life Support (BLS) training. 

The first batch of the value added course was conducted from 17th to 20th October 2022. 18 delegates, including postgraduates and consultant paediatric dentists, from various parts of Karnataka, neighbouring states of Kerala and Tamilnadu enrolled for the program. The event was coordinated by Prof. (Dr.) Kavita Rai, Dept. of Pediatric & Preventive Dentistry, ABSMIDS. Day 1 witnessed the inaugural ceremony which started with welcome address by Prof. (Dr) Manju R, Head, Dept. of Pediatric & Preventive Dentistry. Prof. (Dr) US Krishna Nayak, Principal & Dean, presided over the function. The chief guest for the day, Dr. Anand Venugopal, CEO, Manipal Teaching Hospitals officially inaugurated the event by lighting the lamp. The course kick-started with a module on AHA Certified Basic Life Support (BLS) training by Prof. (Dr) Sripada Mehendale, Head, Dept. of Anesthesiology who introduced the BLS techniques to the delegates. Prof. (Dr) Gayathri Bhat, Dept. of Anesthesiology and Dr. Shruthi KT demonstrated the BLS techniques on both the adult as well as the pediatric mannequins. The delegates were then asked to perform the BLS techniques on the mannequins by themselves upon which they were assessed. 

Day 2 commenced with a ‘recall & road map’ session by the Course Coordinator, Prof. (Dr) Kavita Rai, after which the module 2 on Emergency Management in Pediatric Dental Clinic was dealt with. Dr. Gayathri Bhat, Dr. Nikhil MP, Dr. Govindraj Bhat, Dr. Shweta Rao, faculty from the Dept. of Anesthesiology, KSHEMA and Dr. Prajna Nayak, Sr. Lecturer, Dept. of Pediatric & Preventive Dentistry, ABSMIDS delivered lectures on various topics like ‘Emergency Drugs’, ‘Emergency Equipment’, ‘Medical Emergencies’ and ‘Local Anesthesia Toxicity’. Dr. Govindraj Bhat, Asst. Professor, Dept. of Anesthesiology, demonstrated the technique of peripheral venous catheterisation and drug delivery by intramuscular injection to the delegates. The day concluded with a hands-on training of the delegates on Emergency Management of a pediatric patient in the dental clinic. The delegates were divided into groups of six and were given emergency case scenarios wherein they had to make the correct diagnosis, formulate apt treatment plan and act accordingly. 

Day 3 started with a lecture on ‘Nitrous Oxide Sedation’. The delegates were introduced to inhalation sedation, its objectives, indications, equipment required, problems associated with sedation and sedation monitoring by Dr. Kavita Rai and Dr. Sripada G Mehandale. A live demonstration of Nitrous Oxide Sedation on pediatric dental patients were carried out in the Dept. of Pediatric & Preventive Dentistry under the guidance of the faculty from the Dept. of Anesthesiology. 

The fourth day of the course covered Module 4 on Oral sedation. Dr Meghna Bhandary, Sr. Lecturer, Dept. of Pediatric & Preventive Dentistry through her lecture, introduced oral sedation to the delegates. Prof. (Dr) Manjunath Kamath and Prof. (Dr) Sumalatha R Shetty, Dr. Siri Kandavar and Dr. Joylin Stephany D’Souza from the Dept. of Anesthesiology, KSHEMA spoke on the indications, contraindications, pharmacology and complications of oral sedation, IV sedation and general anesthesia. The course concluded with a live demonstration of dental treatment on a pediatric dental patient under oral midazolam in the minor OT of the Dept. of Pediatric & Preventive Dentistry. 

The valedictory function was held in the Dept. of Pediatric & Preventive Dentistry which was presided by Prof. (Dr.) US Krishna Nayak, Principal & Dean, ABSMIDS. The participation certificates were presented to the delegates. Delegates shared their experiences over the past four days and gave positive feedback. Dr. Manju R proposed the vote of thanks, thereby marking the successful completion of this course.