Glucose monitoring in real time during outpatient dental surgery in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a comparative study of local anesthetics with and without epinephrine

INTRODUCTION: The safety of administration of local anesthetics with epinephrine for diabetic patients undergoing oral surgery is not well grounded in the literature. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the occurrence of variation of glucose in the pre, intra and postoperative extraction of upper teeth under local anesthesia with lidocaine 2% with and without 1:100.000 epinephrine in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Secondly, to evaluate the hemodynamic effects and degree of anxiety. METHODS: A prospective randomized study of patients with diabetes attended in Coronary Chronic Clinics Unit, Heart Institute, Hospital das Clinicas in University of São Paulo Medical School. Continuous monitoring of blood glucose for 24 hours was performed using MiniMed Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS, Medtronic) and the patients were divided into two groups: LSA - which received 5.4 mL of 2% lidocaine without epinephrine and LCA - which received 5.4 mL of 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine. Blood glucose levels were assessed at 24 hours (baseline period) and at certain times: one hour before, during, and up to one hour after oral surgery (procedure period). We evaluated the hemodynamic parameters through a digital automatic pressure meter and anxiety level was measured by the scale. RESULTS: Of 400 patients evaluated, 70 were included in these study, 35 were randomized in the LSA group and 35 in the group LCA. The analysis of mean glicemia in groups LSA and LCA during the baseline period and procedure showed no statistically significant difference (p = 0.229 and p = 0.811, respectively). There was no difference in blood glucose (p = 0.748) between the groups at each time evaluated. However, in both groups there was a significant decrease in blood glucose (p <0.001) over the time periods studied. The groups showed no significant differences regarding SBP (p = 0.176), DBP (p = 0.913), HR (p = 0.570) and anxiety level. CONCLUSION: The administration of 5.4 mL of 2% lidocaine with epinephrine 1:100.000 caused no significant change in blood glucose, hemodynamic parameters and level of anxiety compared to the group without vasoconstrictor.