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General Anaesthetic for under 5s?

General Anaesthetic for under 5s?

Old Jan 19th 2010, 11:01 pm
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Default General Anaesthetic for under 5s?

My dd needs some fillings doing.....upshot is she needs a GA for them because it might be traumatic....I am reluctant to do the GA to be honest. Anyone done it on a child so young? Any alternatives? Any questions I should ask? It would be done at a hospital but I have reservations.

Any advice?
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Old Jan 19th 2010, 11:13 pm
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Default Re: General Anaesthetic for under 5s?

Speak to an anaesthetist.

Both of mine have had GAs but only an aneasthetist can fill you in on the full risks which vary depending on the child and length of procedure. It is something that is done every day.
Originally Posted by plantpot
My dd needs some fillings doing.....upshot is she needs a GA for them because it might be traumatic....I am reluctant to do the GA to be honest. Anyone done it on a child so young? Any alternatives? Any questions I should ask? It would be done at a hospital but I have reservations.

Any advice?
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Old Jan 19th 2010, 11:15 pm
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Default Re: General Anaesthetic for under 5s?

Originally Posted by plantpot
My dd needs some fillings doing.....upshot is she needs a GA for them because it might be traumatic....I am reluctant to do the GA to be honest. Anyone done it on a child so young? Any alternatives? Any questions I should ask? It would be done at a hospital but I have reservations.

Any advice?

Yes, youngest son had this done at the dental hospital, but it was day surgery, home that night.

Main probs were he was on fast from midnight and they didnt operate till 4 pm the next day, he was so distressed from the hunger/thirst I asked them to sedate him till they took him down.

Only other prob was when on the op table he fought the mask, he didnt realise the smell, docs didnt explain it, and he fought going under, punching and kicking and resisting the mask, so second op he had the needle, however they broke it going in so hes off hospitals now Poor fella.

When they come round its more scary for you, blue ice pole to suck, mixed with blood while your child moans in pain, they worry most parents will faint, luckily I have had some medical background so knew what to expect, parents imo should be told so they dont freak out when the kid needs them. They let me go into the op theatre gowned up and called me back in when he came round.

3 days later you wouldnt know he had much done, kids bounce back, appetite and all.
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Old Jan 19th 2010, 11:29 pm
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Default Re: General Anaesthetic for under 5s?

Originally Posted by jad n rich
Yes, youngest son had this done at the dental hospital, but it was day surgery, home that night.

Main probs were he was on fast from midnight and they didnt operate till 4 pm the next day, he was so distressed from the hunger/thirst I asked them to sedate him till they took him down.

Only other prob was when on the op table he fought the mask, he didnt realise the smell, docs didnt explain it, and he fought going under, punching and kicking and resisting the mask, so second op he had the needle, however they broke it going in so hes off hospitals now Poor fella.

When they come round its more scary for you, blue ice pole to suck, mixed with blood while your child moans in pain, they worry most parents will faint, luckily I have had some medical background so knew what to expect, parents imo should be told so they dont freak out when the kid needs them. They let me go into the op theatre gowned up and called me back in when he came round.

3 days later you wouldnt know he had much done, kids bounce back, appetite and all.
How old was youngest son?

BTW you have done nothing to reassure me with your stories of broken needles etc.....eeekkkk
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Old Jan 19th 2010, 11:37 pm
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Default Re: General Anaesthetic for under 5s?

Originally Posted by plantpot
How old was youngest son?

BTW you have done nothing to reassure me with your stories of broken needles etc.....eeekkkk
3 then again at 11, medical reasons not decay

I think its best mums know what to expect, cause little ones can get very upset, if your calm and not freaked out by it, by knowing what to expect its better for them.

BTW We joke now the blue icey poles, it was like halloween gone wrong

Needle probably broke cause he was shaking so much, he shakes if the school sends home a vaccination form, hes been known to scream before the needle even goes in. Just not a needle person. My eldest son is like that too, when I was pregnant once, the eldest nearly fainted because I had a needle
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Old Jan 19th 2010, 11:47 pm
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Default Re: General Anaesthetic for under 5s?

Originally Posted by jad n rich
3 then again at 11, medical reasons not decay

I think its best mums know what to expect, cause little ones can get very upset, if your calm and not freaked out by it, by knowing what to expect its better for them.

BTW We joke now the blue icey poles, it was like halloween gone wrong

Needle probably broke cause he was shaking so much, he shakes if the school sends home a vaccination form, hes been known to scream before the needle even goes in. Just not a needle person. My eldest son is like that too, when I was pregnant once, the eldest nearly fainted because I had a needle
Do you think Nitrous oxide sedation would be an alternative, obviously I will chat with dentist but neede to know what to ask before going in and deciding it was the ONLY course of action.....this is for decay in molars she had since 2.....
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Old Jan 19th 2010, 11:58 pm
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Default Re: General Anaesthetic for under 5s?

Originally Posted by plantpot
Do you think Nitrous oxide sedation would be an alternative, obviously I will chat with dentist but neede to know what to ask before going in and deciding it was the ONLY course of action.....this is for decay in molars she had since 2.....
Would they use that on a 3 year old? deffo a question for the Dentist.


I can only say what happened to my son, but the way he was (nerves) and the amount of teeth out (11) small jaw, the day in hospital was the only way, I guess any major dental work on a 3 year old is not going to be easy, but really in a few days they are fine
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Old Jan 20th 2010, 12:01 am
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Default Re: General Anaesthetic for under 5s?

Originally Posted by plantpot
Do you think Nitrous oxide sedation would be an alternative, obviously I will chat with dentist but neede to know what to ask before going in and deciding it was the ONLY course of action.....this is for decay in molars she had since 2.....
That depends on how long the procedure takes. The doctors may require the child to be fully asleep.

My daughter was about 4 when she had some serious dental work done, and she was fully sedated for about 90 minutes while they did what they had to do. The doctors considered laughing gas at first, but when they saw her reaction to having someone put metal tools in her mouth, they soon chose the full knock out option.

When she came round, she wasn't herself, and had to be held tight while she punched away at me till she realised where she was.

She later had a tooth out with Nitrous oxide (laughing gas, I think) she still remembers that it was strawberry flavour.
 
Old Jan 20th 2010, 12:03 am
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Default Re: General Anaesthetic for under 5s?

Originally Posted by jad n rich
Would they use that on a 3 year old? deffo a question for the Dentist.


I can only say what happened to my son, but the way he was (nerves) and the amount of teeth out (11) small jaw, the day in hospital was the only way, I guess any major dental work on a 3 year old is not going to be easy, but really in a few days they are fine
She is four but yes I guess best to be aware.....unf for me I have a friend who previous to my visit to dentist, was telling me she worked on a case (or two) in melly where kids at dentists who got GA's didn't wake up.....really freaked me out big time....and having two doctor friends who SAY no way is NO help when I have no alternatives......

Thanks for your replies everyone so far though, maybe I just need to suck it up....she is just sooooooo little.....
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Old Jan 20th 2010, 12:05 am
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Default Re: General Anaesthetic for under 5s?

Originally Posted by ABCDiamond
That depends on how long the procedure takes. The doctors may require the child to be fully asleep.

My daughter was about 4 when she had some serious dental work done, and she was fully sedated for about 90 minutes while they did what they had to do. The doctors considered laughing gas at first, but when they saw her reaction to having someone put metal tools in her mouth, they soon chose the full knock out option.

When she came round, she wasn't herself, and had to be held tight while she punched away at me till she realised where she was.

She later had a tooth out with Nitrous oxide (laughing gas, I think) she still remembers that it was strawberry flavour.

Hmmmm she is actually ok with the instruments in her mouth....she has had two scales and polishes anyway, maybe the grating of the teeth would be a bit much for her....
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Old Jan 20th 2010, 2:01 am
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Default Re: General Anaesthetic for under 5s?

When my youngest was 5 he had to have a filling done (not due to decay) and as he is a very uncooperative child, I didn't think that the school dental van was the place for him. I found a specialist paediatric dentist, who had special glasses that he could watch a DVD through, and who gave him a small amount of nitrous oxide through a mask. Much to my surprise, it all worked perfectly, with no trauma. This is a child who had to have a blood test at 4 and it took two of us to hold him down while a third person took the blood. Our ears were ringing for ages after he stopped screaming.

Last edited by HelenTD; Jan 20th 2010 at 3:25 am.
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Old Jan 20th 2010, 3:21 am
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Default Re: General Anaesthetic for under 5s?

Have you been to the pediatric dentist in Crows Nest. They are geared up just for children and are brilliant. You may get some more advice or options from them as they are used to dealing with small mouths and fidgety kids.
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Old Jan 20th 2010, 9:28 pm
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Default Re: General Anaesthetic for under 5s?

My youngest had to have a general when he was 21 months old and had to have a cyst removed from his neck. He was given gas to put him under, and I was allowed to hold him on my lap while this was being carried out and before he was taken to theatre.

To be honest it was horrible but I won't write it all down here as it may not be at all relevant.

When he came round he was very upset and would not stop crying - again that was awful - and we worked out that the cannula in his hand was hurting him. As soon as they removed that he calmed down, cuddled in and went to sleep.

Anyway, after an hour or two he was guzzling toast, corned beef hash, yogurt and banana, then running all over the ward singing songs! The hospital let him out the same day because he was bouncing.

I think just knowing what to expect helps a lot. Good luck, I'm sure it will all be fine.
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Old Jan 20th 2010, 9:33 pm
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Default Re: General Anaesthetic for under 5s?

Originally Posted by emigratingherberts
Have you been to the pediatric dentist in Crows Nest. They are geared up just for children and are brilliant. You may get some more advice or options from them as they are used to dealing with small mouths and fidgety kids.
There is one in Chatswood, and one in Roseville I think...best to get their opinion , my mistajke is that I thought that a 'childrens dentist' was a paediatric dentist...hmmmmmm.....
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Old Jan 20th 2010, 9:42 pm
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Default Re: General Anaesthetic for under 5s?

Let me know how you go. I have a boy on the spectrum who will need great sensitivity when going to the dentist.
Originally Posted by plantpot
There is one in Chatswood, and one in Roseville I think...best to get their opinion , my mistajke is that I thought that a 'childrens dentist' was a paediatric dentist...hmmmmmm.....
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