Dental Management of CHARGE Syndrome Under General Anaesthesia: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND

CHARGE syndrome is a rare congenital genetic disorder caused by variants in CHD7 gene. The acronym "CHARGE" represents its primary features: coloboma of the iris or retina, heart defects, choanal atresia, retardation of growth and development, genital anomalies, and ear anomalies including hearing loss. Craniofacial and oral abnormalities are a significant component of its clinical spectrum and often complicate conventional dental care, necessitating reliance on pharmacological behavior management techniques.

CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 4-year-old boy with CHARGE syndrome who underwent full-mouth dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia. Owing to extensive dental disease, anticipated airway difficulty, and multiple systemic comorbidities, comprehensive multidisciplinary planning and specialized anesthetic management were undertaken. Treatment was completed successfully, with improved oral function and quality of life at follow-up.

CONCLUSION

This case underscores the importance of meticulous treatment planning, specialized airway management, and perioperative monitoring, as well as the value of an interdisciplinary team in ensuring safe and effective care. To our knowledge, this is one of the few reports detailing the dental and anaesthetic considerations and management strategies for a child with CHARGE syndrome.