Incidence of traumatic dental injuries associated with orotracheal intubation in general anesthesia in children during mixed dentition in Damascus, Syria: a prospective longitudinal study.

Abstract

Objectives: Endotracheal tube intubation by laryngoscope during general anesthesia is a safe procedure with a few complications. However, it may cause some damage to the oral cavity structures, which leads to postoperative pain and discomfort. Traumatic dental injuries associated with endotracheal tube intubation are one of the most common complications. The study aimed to determine the incidence of traumatic dental injuries during oral-endotracheal tube intubation in general anesthesia among children receiving surgery at the Children's Hospital in Damascus City during 2022-2023.

Methods: It was a prospective longitudinal study which investigated the incidence of traumatic dental injuries during oral-endotracheal tube intubation under general anesthesia in 110 children aged 6-12 years old at the University Children's Hospital in Damascus City in 2022. After ensuring that the child met inclusion criteria and obtained written consent. Each child was examined before, during, and after 12-24 h of entering the operation room. Personal information (gender - age), information related to anesthesia procedures, and some oral cavity characters were collected.

Results: The incidence of traumatic dental injuries during general anesthesia was 9.1%. Most of them intra-oral soft tissue injuries. The concussion is the most common injury related to teeth damage. In addition, the tongue was the most common-place. There is a correlation between the incidence of traumatic dental injuries and the difficulty of intubation, the number of intubation attempts, Mallampati score (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The anesthesiologist should evaluate the condition of each patient carefully. Document every detail in their record and inform the patient of the possibility of dental damage during the procedures especially in the case that has difficulty intubation.