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Original poster

******EXPATINSCOTLAND******

33 replies

Blossomhill · 05/08/2005 18:18

Just wanted to say thanks so much for telling me about the child that died in Scotland whilst going under ga for dental work.

Very reassuring to hear when your child is due to go under one in a weeks time

I cannot believe how insensitive some people can be

OP posts:
Gillian76 · 05/08/2005 18:24

I was thinking the same, Blossomhill

My DD had her dental work done in hospital, with full medical backup. I'm sure your daughter will be the same.

HappyMumof2 · 05/08/2005 18:25

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Blossomhill · 05/08/2005 18:26

Gillian - Yes dd is also going into hospital with full medical back up too. However doesn't take away that ga's can be risky and very scary for us mums. I just cannot believe someone could be so insensitive. I am worried enough as it is and know the risks but really didn't need to hear that

OP posts:
Original poster
Blossomhill · 05/08/2005 18:27

Post here

OP posts:
HappyMumof2 · 05/08/2005 18:30

Message withdrawn

HappyMumof2 · 05/08/2005 18:33

Message withdrawn

spots · 05/08/2005 18:51

BH, I think EPIS's point was not that GA's in general are dodgy, just that they ought to be administered in hospital, which, as your DD's is, shows that your dentist is taking the right approach. I can totally understand your feelings of anxiety about the whole issue and can see that her post didn't help. But seeing as how she obviously has personal experience that makes her POV impartial perhaps it's not intended to be as inflammatory as her 'Ohmygod' makes it seem. She asks a question, is it to be administered in hospital? to which your answer is 'Yes'. So it's not to make your dd's case seem risky.

Sorry to butt in, but don't worry more than you need to. I am sure dd will be ok. I had a GA at the age of 7 and remember the experience; it wasn't pleasant, but not traumatic; nurses were lovely and I was playing at hospitals for ages afterwards.

Original poster
Blossomhill · 05/08/2005 19:02

Spots - yes but still to even mention that any child has died knowing that my dd is due to go under the same thing is insensitive IMO
I wouldn't dream of menioning it. I actually started that thread for reassurance and now I just feel sick

OP posts:
Original poster
Blossomhill · 05/08/2005 20:49

bump

OP posts:
paolosgirl · 05/08/2005 20:57

I hope I'm not being insensitive here, and I apologise profusely in advance if I am.

The case was big news here. It was a tragic, tragic case, and was headlines for a long time. The anaethestist as I recall was found to be in error, and there were major faults that the dentist should never have allowed to happen. There was a big shake up of dental services after that. It was done in the surgery, not the hospital.

Good luck to your wee girl - she'll be fine. I had GA a couple of times as a child. I'll never forget the smell - yeuch! - but a trip to the toy shop later made up for it

Original poster
Blossomhill · 05/08/2005 21:01

Dh and I are seriously considering pulling out since reading this.
This is my dd we are talking about and the thought of her coming to any harm is just so hard to even think about

OP posts:
paolosgirl · 05/08/2005 21:03

Blossom, I can understand your anxiety - I had to watch DS going under a GA for heart surgery the day after his second birthday, so believe me, I know what it's like - but if she's having it done in hospital, with all the proper staff and equipment, it will be fine. Far worse for her to not have it done, wouldn't it?

expatinscotland · 05/08/2005 21:05

Well it's true! And I was glad I'd seen that, b/c I had no idea things could go wrong like that and that mother is trying her level best to make sure it happens to no one else.

I'd hate for that to happen to someone else and didn't mean to be insensitive. But what if people didn't know about it at all, and these things were still being done in office settings?

As paolosgirl stated, it was done in an office NOT a hospital, and therefore didn't have the equipment on hand for emergencies.

Sorry if it made you sick. It made me sick to hear it, but personally I'm grateful that mother was brave enough to get her story out there so people in areas where they are still doing this will get warned.

If you daughter's in a hospital setting it's different and I'm sure she'll be fine.

But I asked a QUESTION, wondering if these things are still administered in office settings. B/c they should never be. And you know, I don't know, b/c I see a lot of GAs going on here that you don't see happening where I came from.

expatinscotland · 05/08/2005 21:09

But you just said it was NOT an office setting! This case was. That should be stopped, but sadly, it might not be, and that's why I brought it up.

As paolosgirl stated, it happened in EDinburgh, and the mother's campaign to stop it is focused on NHS Scotland.

Obviously, her case has had an effect.

GAs are very safe in hospital where they belong and where there is staff specifically trained in anaesthesiology.

I had to have surgery 3 times during childhood. All in hospital, all safely.

It is unavoidable for some people, that's why thankfully there are anaesthetists specifically trained for paediatric patients.

Aimsmum · 05/08/2005 21:09

Message withdrawn

chicagomum · 05/08/2005 21:11

it is now illegal to administer general anaesthetic in a dental surgery, it has to be done in a registered clinic or hospital environment by a qualified anaesthetist with all the necessary recusitation equipment, the only thing a "regular" dentist should be doing is treating a patient who is under mild sedation (eg valium)

Original poster
Blossomhill · 05/08/2005 21:31

Expat - in all situations there will be something like this. No need to remind me who is going through it with my dd next week.
I am sure I could post hundreds of horror stories I have heard in the giving birth section but I wouldn't as why would I want to frighten people?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 05/08/2005 21:34

Well I certainly didn't set out thinking, 'How can I frighten to OP?' I apologised for frightening you and I can't do anymore than that.

I have no wish to get into an argument or turn this into one of those infamous threads and if others do, that is their business.

chicagomum · 05/08/2005 21:37

blossomhill - i frequently have to refer children (and some adults) for treatment under sedation and GA for treatment and often have the parents returning to say how it wasn't nearly as bad as they thought it was going to be, try not to worry about it (easier said than done i know) just think that once its done your dd will be much more comfortable)

ps i posted on the original thread too giving you support

Original poster
Blossomhill · 05/08/2005 21:40

Thankyou Chicago mum xxxxxx

As dd has special needs it does make it twice as hard in some ways. We are overly protective of her iyswim

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jasper · 05/08/2005 21:56

I have performed extractions and other work under GA in hundreds of children , including back in the bad old days when a travelling anaesthetist used to come to our practice one day a week for the GA session. The worst part about it was dealing with the anxiety of the parents!
Blossomhill have you identified the factors pertaining to your dd's teeth that have resulted in her dental problems in the first place?
I hope it is something you are able to prevent in future.

Please try to stop worrying.Dental GA is very straightforward and uneventful! Typically the kids come round and demand something to eat straight away

Original poster
Blossomhill · 05/08/2005 22:00

As she has sn Jasper firstly it was a nightmare brushing and we did the best we could from 1-3 yrs (as in holding her down). Then the past year the dentist has tried so hard to treat as dd had some decay but where it hasn't been treated it has got worse (dd wouldn't co-operate. We have avoided GA up until now but have decided it's the only way!

Dd has a great diet and her teeth brushed regularly. What more can I do???

OP posts:
piffle · 05/08/2005 22:10

has the dentist suggested coating her teeth (biting surfaces) with the special gel? My ds had this as he has poor enamel ( whole other bottle at bedtime mothe guilt trip thread)
It has saved his first teeth and thus preserved his second teeth esp the molars, your dd maybe a little young
With regard the GA's I do know that there have been one to two (I've read of) sad cases in dentist surgeries but that now all dental and other GA's are administered in a hospital, I am the veteran of 11 GA's and have watched dd (also special needs) undergo one, I fully have faith in the anaesthetists I've seen.
You are under a lot of worrying stress, deep breaths, have some more BlossomHill sweetie
Big hugs
xxxx

Original poster
Blossomhill · 05/08/2005 22:33

Thanks Piffle

Yes dd is having her teeth coated. She is also having her vocal chords checked whilst under GA as she has a gruffly voice!

Big hugs to you too. xxxxxx

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jasper · 05/08/2005 22:44

Blossomhill I am glad I am not the only mum who holds their kids down to brush their teeth
my nearly 5 yo has only just started to cooperate.
On a different note, ds lost a front baby tooth yesterday. He put it under his pillow. Guess which tooth fairy forgot to visit ?