Medical Optimization of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Patient: A Surgeon’s Perspective

Abstract
Although surgeons train to become technical experts who manage intraoperative and postoperative challenges, our patients are becoming significantly more complex. Whether we perform elective surgery on patients at extremes of age or patients present with more chronic diseases than we can count, we must be able to deliver predictable outcomes and surgical success. But, how do we get there? Gone are the days of only operating on young, healthy patients. Now, as oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMSs), our patients often have several medical providers, take a plethora of prescription and herbal supplements (not to mention an occasional illicit substance), and fail to maintain a healthy diet and fitness regimen. Favorable surgical outcomes depend greatly on an optimized patient who can handle anesthetic medications, quickly resume normal daily activities, heal hard and soft tissues without undue sequelae, and take in adequate nutrition. Post-surgical recovery is clearly coupled with maximized systemic health, where patients may need a preoperative “tuned-up”. This presentation will identify important risk factors, state-of-the-art diagnostics, and the latest regenerative strategies to help practicing OMS optimize our aged, osteoporotic, and compromised patients before surgical intervention.

Learning Objectives
1). This presentation will discuss medically compromised patients and risk factors associated with poor surgical outcomes.
2). This presentation will discuss optimizing aged and compromised patients prior to surgical intervention.
3). This presentation will familiarize the participant with growth factors and cellular therapies to enhance hard and soft regeneration.