title: Preoperative assessment for children requiring dental treatment under general anesthesia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to describe children <6 years requiring general anesthesia for dental treatment and factors associated with a change in medical management prior to surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case series reviewed the past medical history and preoperative assessment of patients referred for dental preoperative evaluations at a single institution (2005-2008). A "deflection" was defined as a recommendation to change preoperative or operative care based on the preoperative assessment. The sample was analyzed using descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 648 subjects (aged 9 months to 6 years, mean 3.9 years), 63% had a past medical history abnormality and 38% had previous surgery. In total, 14% were deflected, most commonly because of the addition of infective endocarditis prophylaxis (29%). A history of coagulation disorder had the strongest association with deflection (P < .0001, odds ratio = 10.0, 95% confidence interval = 4.6-22.1), followed by cardiac anomalies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative assessments for pediatric dental treatment frequently identify medical problems resulting in treatment plan alterations.
authors.affiliation: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7450, USA.
authors.forename: Lauriane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Auvergne
authors.forename: Rocio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Quinonez
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: J Nicole
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Drawbridge
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cowherd
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Steiner
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003729:Dental Care / Q000379:methods*; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D057234:Preoperative Period