[Use of hypnosis in radiotherapy as an alternative to general anesthesia in pediatric radiation oncology].

BACKGROUND: General anesthesia (GA) is often needed for radiotherapy (RT) in young children. This study aimed to evaluate the place of the rituals and/or hypnosis in pediatric in a reference center in pediatric radiation oncology in Rhône-Alpes Auvergne.

METHODS: This observational study retrospectively collected data on AG in children<5 years treated by RT in Leon-Berard regional center, Lyon, France between 2003 and 2014. Two-time periods, before and after 2008 have been compared, the second one introducing accompaniment methods such as hypnosis systematically. Explanatory analyses of AG were performed using logistic regression.

RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-two children benefited from RT in that period and were included (70 patients until 2008, 62 after 2008). Fifty-three percent were irradiated under GA. There was significant reduction (P<0.1) in the use of GA after 2008. The use of GA was not significantly associated with the RT techniques. The patients more likely to undergo RT without GA were the oldest and the patients treated for abdominal lesions (P<0.01).

DISCUSSION: The study confirms that rituals and hypnosis can be used instead of GA in about half of patients under 5 years, even also with high-technicity RT requiring optimal immobilization.