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.