A SURVEY OF IN-DWELLING INTRAVENOUS CANNULA USE IN GENERAL DENTAL PRACTICE

A study to ascertain the use of in-dwelling intravenous cannulae in ge neral dental practice was performed. A self-completion questionnaire w as distributed to the 149 dental practitioners registered with the Cle veland Family Health Services Authority. A total of 131 dentists (88%) completed and returned the questionnaire: 58% of practitioners were p ractising either general anaesthesia (GA) or intravenous sedation (IVS ) and 59% of these practitioners routinely used an in-dwelling intrave nous cannula to administer the anaesthetic or sedative agents. This wa s supervised by a medically qualified anaesthetist in 100% of GA cases and 55% of IVS cases. Sixty per cent of respondents had received dida ctic instruction at undergraduate level on gaining intravenous access, but 72% of these stated that the teaching had been inadequate. Sevent een per cent of the practitioners had never received formal training i n gaining intravenous access. These results suggest the need for forma l practical instruction in obtaining intravenous access may have to be addressed.