Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 10/19/2008

Question
My daughter is 18 months old and is scheduled to have surgery for labial adhesion at the end of this month.  What kind of implications present due to her young age?  What if any brain damage might occur?  Is there anything presurgery that I can do to help prevent any damage or side effects (food, supplements, etc.)?  Also, what are the implications in getting general anethesia and then a month later getting laughing gas at the dentist?  (She is scheduled to have broken teeth repaired and I'm not sure if they will use laughing gas or not).

Answer
Hi Amber
It is a worrying time giving your child totally into the care of someone else - as a parent I know this only too well. Rest assured that modern anaesthesia is very safe and this is only a minor procedure and so shouldn't take long. There is no need to consider food supplements. There is no problem with her then attending the dentist a month later - many children have no option but to have repeated anaesthetics at regular intervals e.g. weekly and they do not have problems.
I hope this helps a bit.
Kind regards
Dr Ian Jackson