The frequency of repeat general anaesthesia for teeth extractions in children.

AIM

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of repeat extractions under general anaesthesia (GA) in children.

METHODS

The dental hospital records of patients attending for outpatient GA extractions at Liverpool University Dental Hospital, Liverpool, UK, between January and March 2003 were examined retrospectively. A data collection form was used to record the relevant information.

RESULTS

A total of 278 patients with a mean age of 6.5 years (SD = 2.2 years) were seen for GA extractions. Of those, 33 patients (11.9%) with a mean age of 4.9 years (SD = 2 years) at the time of their initial GA had had a previous or would undergo a subsequent episode of GA extraction. The mean interval between repeat GA was 2.3 years (SD = 1.6 years). Fifteen cases (45.5%) had the repeat GA within 2 years. Radiographs were available as part of the assessment process for 84 (34.3%) of the 245 patients who had had a single episode of GA. However, of the 33 patients who had had a repeat GA, only seven (21.2%) had radiographs available at the time of the initial GA. Regarding the number of teeth extracted, a significant difference (P < 0.01) was found between the number of teeth extracted in patients who had had a single GA (mean = 4.6, SD = 2.5), compared with those extracted at the initial GA for the repeat GA group (mean = 3.2, SD = 2).

CONCLUSION

The frequency of repeat GA is relatively low, but there is a need for appropriate treatment planning incorporating the use of radiographs to reduce this even further.