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.