Authors: Seed, Rachel¹; Boardman, Charlotte²; Davies, Mark¹

Source: Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England, Volume 88, Number 2, March 2006 , pp. 207-209(3)

Publisher: The Royal College of Surgeons of England

Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI) guidelines Recommendations for standards of monitoring during anaesthesia and recovery state that cardiovascular monitoring for induction of general anaesthesia should include pulse oximetry and non-invasive blood pressure measurement, but recognise that young patients may not co-operate sufficiently to allow this. The aim of this study was to look at levels of compliance possible for pulse oximetry and non-invasive blood pressure measurement, in a population known to be unco-operative with therapeutic interventions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 500 records of patients attending for chair dental general anaesthesia was carried out. It was recorded whether pre-operatively pulse oximetry and non-invasive blood pressure measurement had been allowed in addition to the child's age and sex.

RESULTS: Of the children, 52% were male and 48% were female. The age range was 2-15 years. Overall, 448 children co-operated with both pulse oximetry and non-invasive blood pressure measurement. Co-operation appeared to increase with increasing age.

DISCUSSION: Of the children, 90% were co-operative with pre-operative monitoring. It could easily be assumed that many of these children, who are referred for general anaesthesia because they are less co-operative than their peers, would not allow proper pre-operative cardiovascular monitoring. This does not appear to be the case.

CONCLUSIONS: The majority of children, including the very young, attending for chair dental general anaesthesia, will co-operate sufficiently to allow cardiovascular monitoring during induction of anaesthesia, even though the majority will not tolerate exodontia under local anaesthesia.

Articles that cite this article?

Keywords: GENERAL ANAESTHESIA; MONITORING; PAEDIATRICS

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1308/003588406X95020

Affiliations: 1: Liverpool University Dental Hospital, Liverpool, UK 2: Department of Orthodontics, Leeds University Dental Hospital, Leeds UK

Publication date: 2006-03-01

More about this publication?

• The Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England is the official journal of the College and is published eight times a year in January, March, April, May, July, September, October and November. The main aim of the journal is to publish high quality, peer-reviewed papers that relate to all branches of surgery.
  
  The Annals also includes letters and comments, a regular technical section, NICE news, controversial topics, CORESS feedback, book reviews and the best trainee presentations from England and Wales. The editorial board is composed of members of the College Council and experts from across the surgical specialties.
  
  Archive issues of the Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England are available via the PubMed Central database
  
  To view articles that have been published online ahead of print please click here
• Information for Authors
• Subscribe to this Title
• Information for Advertisers
• The journals of importance to UK clinicians - Survey
• ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Medicine ,  Surgery ,  Education
• By this author: Seed, Rachel ;  Boardman, Charlotte ;  Davies, Mark

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers