Anne Faulk, Julia Power, Hector Mejia, Miranda Dunnam, Hannah Dimmitt, Amanda Osborne, Laura Flowers, Rene Guilbeau, David C Yu, Jessica A Zagory
INTRODUCTION: Periprocedural anxiety is common in pediatric patients and is characterized by tension, anxiety, irritability, and autonomic activation. Periprocedural anxiety increases during certain events including admission to the preoperative area, separation from caregivers, induction of anesthesia, and IV placement. A study of children aged 2-12 showed that perioperative anxiety in children may be influenced by high parental anxiety and low sociability of the child. While these are nonmodifiable variables in the perioperative setting, there are numerous ways to ameliorate both parental and patient anxiety including the use of certified child life specialists (CCLSs) to aid in child comfort...
April 15, 2024: Journal of Surgical Research