A tragedy occurred in California, USA. A 9-year-old girl received general anesthesia for dental surgery. The operation went smoothly, but she suddenly died on the way home. The family found it difficult to accept. The US media also revealed the record of doctors at the clinic being punished for medical misconduct in the past.
The girl underwent surgery at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista, California. After the operation, she was transferred to the recovery room for observation. She was then allowed to return home. She fell asleep in the car but could not be woken up, and was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital.
The local medical examiner’s office is still investigating the cause of death and it is unclear whether dental surgery was related to the girl’s death. Experts also say it’s too early to draw conclusions, but surgeries that require anesthesia are inherently risky, especially in children. Retired dentist Michael Davis said, “When a child is put to sleep under general anesthesia, the procedure is more dangerous than for adults.”
Because of differences in metabolic rate and body size, children may need lower doses of the drug, but there are exceptions. A study from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) shows that people with naturally red hair carry a genetic mutation that makes them more resistant to anesthetic drugs.
It is worth noting that documents obtained by NBC San Diego show that the only physician in this clinic who can perform sedation procedures, Ryan Watkins, was investigated by the California Dental Board in 2016 and was suspended from 2020 to 2023 for giving an adult patient unnecessary drugs that almost killed him.
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