Dental management of the Down and Eisenmenger syndrome patient.

About 40% to 50% of Down syndrome (DS) patients can have significant congenital heart defects such as patent ductus arteriosus, Tetralogy of Fallot, and septal defects. Patients with large septal defects may develop Eisenmenger syndrome (ES), which is defined by the cardiac septal defect and pulmonary hypertension coupled with a reverse right to left shunting of blood flow. DS patients that suffer from this condition require special considerations in the delivery of their dental care to prevent further medical complications or emergencies such as infection, cyanotic episodes, and thromboemboli. Collaboration with the cardiologist is also essential to ensure a complete and comprehensive pre-operative work up. The purpose of this article is to describe the dental management of DS patients with ES under general anesthesia.