Complications related to the administration of general anesthesia in 600 developmentally disabled dental patients.

A total of 600 handicapped patients had dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia during an eight-year period. Handicaps included mental retardation, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, seizure disorders, autism, cystic fibrosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, and muscular dystrophy. No significant complications developed in the majority of patients. This is attributed to thorough preoperative evaluation, appropriate anesthetic management, and vigilant postoperative observation.