218 - Reasons for Failed General Anesthesia Pediatric Dental Procedures

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate reasons pediatric dental patients failed GA appointments. This was a follow-up study to a similar study completed in 2021.

Methods: Using methods from the previous study, data were collected using a retrospective review of 276 charts of patients with GA appointments at a university pediatric dental clinic between September 26^th, 2022 and May 31^st, 2023. Information obtained included age, sex, distance between residence and the university, insurance type, referral status, affiliation of primary care provider, special health care needs (SHCN) status, completion of intermediate treatment, time between consultation and GA appointment, and reasons for failed appointments. Descriptive and bivariate analyses (alpha = 0.05) were conducted.

Results: The study included 276 patients. There were 45 failed and 231 kept appointments. Subjects who received emergency care between consultation and the GA appointment were more likely to fail than those who did not (27% vs. 14%; P=.033). Subjects with SHCN were less likely to fail than those without (12% vs. 21%; P=.044). The mean/ median days between consultation and the GA appointment for subjects who failed were significantly higher than for those who kept their appointment (219.5/215.5 vs. 166.8/181; P=.002). Factors of age, sex, distance between residence and the university, insurance type and clinical variables showed no significant associations with failed appointments.

Conclusions:  Significant differences were found between patients who failed their appointments compared with patients who kept their appointments if they received emergency care and were a patient with SHCN.

Identify Supporting Agency and Grant Number: Supported by the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA