Dental Sedation and General Anesthesia Considerations for Patients Posthepatic Transplantation

Hepatic compromise poses significant impacts upon the care of patients undergoing routine dental treatment. When sedation or general anesthesia is planned for dental treatment or oral and maxillofacial surgery, an understanding of basic liver function and clinical evaluation can assist in adapting treatment modifications for patients with limited function due to previous disease and resultant organ transplantation efforts. Beginning with a basic overview of hepatic physiology, this review will outline the specific functions of digestion, metabolism, synthesis, and detoxification involving the liver. Specific clinical considerations will be reviewed regarding comorbidities that develop prior to and after liver transplantation that often impact a patient’s suitability for ambulatory and office-based care. Lastly, choices in both local anesthetics, sedative medications, general anesthetics, and postoperative analgesics utilized in dental treatment will be discussed.