Complications within the first 24 hours after dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this survey study was to assess adverse events in young, healthy children treated for dental caries under general anesthesia (GA) in the first 24 hours after discharge from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC).

Methods: This study involved a sample of 50 2- to 10-year-old healthy patients who were scheduled for dental rehabilitation under GA at CCHMC. The principal investigator called 24 hours after discharge from the treatment facility and interviewed parents using a 22-item questionnaire, which generally addressed some daily functions of childhood. Analysis of the data involved descriptive statistics, frequency distribution, and cross-tabulation.

Results: There was no significant difference among patients by gender or age group who slept while traveling home. Older children tended to vomit, while younger children had diarrhea. More moderate and severe complaints were reported for restorative work involving stainless steel crowns (SSCs) compared to no restorative work (ie, extractions only) or restorative work without SSCs.

Conclusion: Some children may experience temporary disruption of bodily functions. Additionally, restorative procedures involving stainless steel crowns may cause more complaints and a return to preoperative home behaviors may take 6 or more hours.