Does the topical use of epinephrine for sinus floor augmentation affect systemic hemodynamics?

Although epinephrine is one of the most commonly used vasoconstrictor in association with local anesthesia in dentistry, systemic effects of topical admission of epinephrine for sinus augmentation have not been investigated yet. The purpose of this study was to reveal the safety of epinephrine as a topical vasoconstrictor in sinus augmentation procedures. Forty-three healthy patients who require sinus floor augmentation for dental implant placement were included in this study. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the application of either epinephrine-soaked cottonoid or saline-soaked cottonoid for sinus floor augmentation, and heart rate, systolic, and diastolic pressures were evaluated and compared before, during, and after the procedure. Although there were changes in heart rate, systolic, and diastolic blood pressures, no statistical significance was observed for neither heart rate nor systolic and diastolic blood pressures (P > 0.05). This study showed that the topical use of 1/100,000 epinephrine ensures efficacy by helping the clinician to elevate the sinus membrane and keeps the changes in systemic hemodynamics within safe limitations.