Outpatient general anaesthesia for oral surgery

Outpatient general anaesthesia (GA) is administered for extraction of carious teeth in children and straightforward dento-alveolar surgery such as removal of impacted teeth, cyst enucleation and dental implantology in adults. Although oral surgery is often performed under local anaesthesia, GA is indicated in conditions when local anaesthesia is ineffective and in uncooperative patients because of age, fear or anxiety, mental impairment or physical disability. Outpatient GA for oral surgery yields a high satisfaction score from the patients. The incidence of major morbidity is acceptably low because of proper patient and procedure selection, improved perioperative patient monitoring, and the use of newer, faster recovery anaesthetic agents with fewer side-effects. Effective pain management is important for optimal postoperative analgesia and patient satisfaction. The principles, conduct, and management of common problems of outpatient GA for oral surgery are discussed.