ABSTRACT
Introduction: Aim of the study was to analyse the structure of patients referred for dental treatment in general anaesthesia (GA) and to analyse the triage outcomes. Material(s) and Method(s): Retrospective chart analysis of patients referred between January 1st 2018 and July 7th 2022 was performed. Following data were registered: age, sex, diagnosis/ reason for referral for GA, indication for dental treatment in GA, trisage outcome and waiting time for the GA procedure. Result(s): Charts of 193 referred in the aforementioned period were analysed. Most common reason for the referral was autism (65/33.7%), cerebral paralysis (29/15%) and mental retardation (27/14%). Indication for dental treatment in GA was found in 156(80.8%) patients while in 37(19.2%) patients no indication for dental treatment in GA was found. Out of the 156 patients who were indicated for dental treatment in GA, 98(62.8%) patients were managed through day-care surgery and 8(5.2%) patients were admitted to hospital. Twenty patients (12.8%) were still waiting for their GA appointment in the time of analysis, 29(18.6%) were lost to follow up and in one (0.6%) patient the anaesthesiologist recommended ambulatory treatment due to increased risk. Out of the 37 patients in whom no indication for the treatment in GA was found, 13(35.2%) had no caries, 16/ (43.2%) were referred to paediatric dentist and 8(21.6%) were managed on the initial exam. Median time of waiting for the procedure was 120(10-365) days. Before the COVID- 19 pandemics median waiting time was 90(15-300) days, and after the COVID-19 pandemics median waiting time was 135(10-365) days. Conclusion(s): In the majority of the patients referred for dental treatment in GA, indication for the procedure was established. Majority of the referred patients can be managed through a day-care surgery. COVID-19 pandemics is probably one of the reasons for the increased GA procedure waiting time.
ABSTRACT
Aim:The aim of this study was to show the impact of the pandemic on changes in guidelines for clinical work and the number of patients of the Clinic of Dentistry, University Hospital Centre (UHC) Zagreb, in the period of normal work before the pandemic and in subsequent years. Methods: From the data base of the hospital information system of UHC Zagreb data were retrospectively collected on the total number of cases at the Clinic of Dentistry in each period and the total number of cases at individual departments, for the period from January 1 to November 11, in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Results: During the pandemic period the most significant decrease in the number of patients in majority of organizational units was evident in 2020 compared to 2018, when a decrease in the number of patients of 30.27% was recorded, while in 2021, compared to 2018, the number of patients decreased by 9.73 %. The Department of Oral Surgery and the Department of Orthodontics had an almost unchanged number of patients in 2020 compared to 2018, while in 2021, compared to 2018, there was an increase in the number of patients. Rebro Dental Clinic and One-day surgery also recorded an increase in the number of patients. At the time of the epidemiological recommendations on the introduction of cold drive, these units of the Dental Clinic also treated other, less urgent diagnoses that would lead to bad consequences if delayed. During the collective annual leave of all other organizational units of the Dental Clinic, these units take over the provision of all necessary services of the Dental Clinic. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic has led to a reduction in the number of patients at the level of the Dental Clinic. The inability to treat teeth in a timely manner resulted in increased need for extractions and an increase in the number of patients at the Department of Oral Surgery. In 2021 there was a greater or lesser increase in the number of patients in individual departments, which, however, in the observed period has not yet reached the numbers from 2018. In the coming months, a further increase in the number of patients and elective dental procedures is expected. © 2022 Hrvatski Lijecnicki Zbor. All rights reserved.