General anesthesia at the dentist
In some cases general anesthesia is necessary in children. This is usually performed by an anesthesiologist. First of all, a preliminary examination by the pediatrician and an explanatory talk by an anesthesiologist take place.
On the day of treatment by the dentist, the child must be fasting, which means that he or she must not have eaten anything for six hours before the procedure and must not have had anything to drink for four hours before. The teeth should also not be brushed before. At the dentist, the child is first given an anxiety-relieving sedative.
Afterwards the anesthesia is induced with a special mask. After a few minutes the child falls asleep, only then the parents have to leave the treatment room. Now the dentist performs the procedure.
During the whole period the child is monitored by the anaesthetist. Afterwards the child continues to be monitored in the recovery room until he or she has fallen asleep. As a rule, the parents are allowed to return to their child immediately after the treatment. When the child is fully awake again and the anesthesiologist gives his or her consent, the child can go home again. Learn more about this under: General anesthesia at the dentist
Anesthesia for polyp surgery
Polyps are the so-called pharyngeal tonsils. Although the removal of polyps has become an absolutely routine procedure, the operation is not uncomplicated and is therefore always performed under general anesthesia. The anesthesia consists of a sleeping pill that eliminates consciousness.
A painkiller and a drug that relaxes the muscles are also given. Because of the muscle relaxation the affected person cannot breathe alone. Instead, the patient is ventilated through a so-called tube (a tube that leads through the mouth into the windpipe).
Sleep disorder after anesthesia
Sleep disturbances after general anesthesia are repeatedly observed in children. They can appear in the first days after the operation and disappear within a week. However, many also report longer lasting episodes of sleep disorders.
A concrete connection with anaesthesia is not known. It is much more likely that the children wake up with pain after the operation, and they also notice a change in the operated area. This may cause them to fear waking up with these feelings again. Normally, a lot of patience and positive encouragement helps until the sleep disturbances subside after a few days or weeks.
