Pain-related complaints of paediatric patients after dental treatment under general anaesthesia

Authors

  • A Radacsi Department of Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical School and Clinical Center, University of Pecs
  • K Katona Department of Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical School and Clinical Center, University of Pecs
  • N Farkas Institute of Bioanalysis, Medical School, University of Pecs
  • T Kovesi Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Medical School and Clinical Centre, University of Pecs
  • I Szanto Department of Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical School and Clinical Center, University of Pecs
  • B Sandor Department of Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical School and Clinical Center, University of Pecs

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23804/ejpd.2023.24.01.11

Keywords:

Postoperative pain, General anaesthesia, Children, Analgesics

Abstract

AIM: To identify factors related to postoperative pain and to recognise strategies to reduce this pain after dental treatment under general anaesthesia. METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study. Children treated under general ansesthesia reported pain daily using the Wong Baker FACES® Pain Rating Scale. Their parents/caregivers filled in a related Yes/No questionnaire during hospitalisation and the first postoperative week. The duration and severity of pain were evaluated in relation to various factors. CONCLUSION: A well-established protocol is indicated to reduce operation time. Patients and their parents should be informed about the possibility of constantly subsiding postoperative pain that may last for a week. As additional local anaesthesia during general anaesthesia (GA) does not provide postoperative pain reduction in deciduous tooth extraction cases, its administration could be omitted.