Knowledge and Attitude among Dental Students Regarding Cryosurgery

 

Harini. K, Dr. Dhanraj. M, Dr. Anandhi. T

Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Chennai, India.

 

ABSTRACT:

Background:Cryosurgery is the use of extreme cold produced by liquid nitrogen ( or argon gas ) to destroy the abnormal tissue. Its use is increasing in oral cavity. The oral mucosa, because of its characteristics of humidity and smoothness , is an ideal site for its technique. It shows a very good aesthetic result and it may be either the first choice or an alternative option to conventional surgery.

Aim:To create awareness and to evaluate the knowledge and attitude on cryosurgery among dental students.

Materials and methods: The questionnaire was distributed to 100 dental students regarding their knowledge on cryosurgery. The responses were recorded and analysed.

Results:Knowledge,attitude among Dental students regarding cryosurgery is inadequate.Majority of students have good knowledge on material used for cryosurgery.Most of the students also aware that cryosurgery in a painless treatment.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Cryosurgery is a method of local destruction of tissues by freezing in situ “Cryosurgery” is derived from Greek word “Kryos,” that is, frost, thus literally meaning frost surgery. The local application of low temperature was probably first used as a means of analgesia by the ancient Egyptians (1).The cryosurgical site is characterized by two zones: a central zone of total coagulative necrosis and a peripheral zone characterized by varying degrees of cellular death and injury (2). Cryosurgery is painlessness (neither local nor general anaesthesia is demanded) and provides absence of bleeding during operations as well as postoperative period.It enables quick healing,practically without leaving scars, minimal traumatic consequences, short time of operation(3)

 

Cryotherapy has been used in the treatment of keratotic, hyperplastic, granulomatous, vascular, pigmented and salivary gland lesions.Generally, histological examination is required to confirm lesion diagnosis but biopsy prior to cryotherapy may compromise the final result for clinically diagnosable lesions such as mucoceles and haemangiomas(4).The disadvantage of patient include Erythema and swelling are the norm. Blistering is common . Pain, especially throbbing pain.May require multiple visits(3).Cryosurgery is contradicted in patients suffering from cold hypersensitivities, or intolerance, hypertension, Raynaud`s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, arteriosclerosis, paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, cryoglobulinemia(5). The aim of this article is to create awareness and to evaluate the knowledge, attitude on cryosurgery among dental students.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This study was conducted among dental students of Saveetha dental college. A self-administered questionnaire was developed to assess the knowledge on cryosurgery. Questions were on material used, complications, cost and insulation on cryosurgery. The responses were recorded and analysed.

RESULTS:

A total of 100 students participated in this study. 54% of students aware about cryosurgery(fig 1).85% of students prefer cryosurgery to destroy abnormal tissue(fig 2). 60% of students thinkthat cryosurgery is done for both tumours and internal organs.24% of students felt that cryosurgery is performed only for tumours. 16% of students felt that cryosurgery is performed only for internal organs. 75% of students think that liquid nitrogen is the most common material used for cryosurgery. 30% of students aware about the complications associated with cryosurgery. 40% of students aware about cost and insulation of cryosurgery(fig 3).75% of students think that cryosurgery is a painless treatment(fig 4).65% of students are interested to have training in cryosurgery. From the above data, it is clear that most of the dental students have inadequate awareness on cryosurgery.

 

DISCUSSION:

In the present study,about 85%of students prefer cryosurgery to destroy abnormal tissues.Even the study done by the Daveinthiran Thanabalan also concluded that cryosurgery is an effective treatment option for variety lesion of head and neck region.It is suitable for infants,anxious patients and patient whom other treatments are contraindicated (3). 75% of students think that liquid nitrogen is the most common material used for cryosurgery. Aarti concluded in his study that several treatment modalities which have been described in literature, includes liquid nitrogen cryosurgery—a therapeutic alternative for treating mucoceles in children(6). 75% of students think that cryosurgery is a painless treatment. Karla et al in his case study Cryosurgery as an effective alternative for treatment of oral lesions inchildren reported that the postoperative period was uneventful and healing occurred without pain, bleeding, discomfort, infection and with minimal or no scar formation(2). 30% of students aware about the complications associated with cryosurgery.The complications associated with cryosurgery include Intradermal haemorrhage,edema around treatment site,weeping of fluid,headache,infection at wound site (3).

 

Fig 1:Awareness

 

Fig 2:Prefer cryosurgery to destroy abnormal tissue

 

Fig 3:Cost of cryosurgery

 

CONCLUSION:

Cryosurgery has developed over a long period of time and is still progressing slowly. The lack of complete knowledge regarding cryosurgery may be limiting its development. Education should be given to create awareness on cryosurgery since it provides very good aesthetic results and it may be alternative option to conventional surgery.

 

REFERENCES:

1.       Ashaok Bansal, Shivani Jain, Shipra Gupta. Cryosurgery in the treatment of ora-facial lesions.Indian journal of Dental Research,23(2),2012.

2.       Karla Mayra Rezende, Paulo de Camargo Moraes, Luciana Butini Oliveira, Luiz Alexandre Thomaz, Jose Luiz Cintra Junqueira, Marcelo Bonecker. Cryosurgery as an effective alternative for treatment of oral lesions in children. Braz Dent J 25(4) 2014.

3.       Daveinthiran Thanabalan. The use of Cryosurgery in the management of oral lesions. International Journal of scientific Research. vol 3 issue 5 May 2014.

4.       CS Farah,NW Savage.Cryotherapy for treatment of oral lesions. Australian Dental Journal 2006;51:(1):2-5.

5.       B. Lokesh, S. Jimson, T.muthumani, J.Parthiban, B.Anandh. Cryosurgery-Following intraoral surgeries and for treatment of oral lesions : A Review.boimedical  and Pharmacology Journal. Vol.8(spl.Edn),621-624(oct.2015)

6.       Aarti Garg, Abhaymani Tripathi, Swati Chowdhry, Ashish Sharma, Gautam Biswas.Cryosurgery: Painless and Fearless Management of Mucocele in Young Patient.Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2014 Aug, Vol-8(8): ZD04-ZD06.

 

 

 

Accepted on 31.07.2017        © RJPT All right reserved

Research J. Pharm. and Tech 2017; 10(12): 4321-4322.