Anxiety of parents and children undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy correlates with sedative doses

Abstract

Aim: Sedation is a fundamental component of the pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy (GIE). The dosing of drugs to be used for sedating the child is an important aspect of the efficacy and safety of procedural sedation. Besides, outpatient procedures are stressful situations for pediatric patients and also their families, and therefore, parental anxiety may affect children indirectly. The first aim of the study was to assess the association between parental anxiety and required sedative dose in children undergoing GIE. The second aim was to assess the factors associated with children’s preoperative anxiety. 
 Material and Method: This study was a prospective, observational, and single-center study performed by the same fellowship-trained pediatric gastroenterology specialist and the same anesthesiology specialist. Parental anxiety was evaluated with the State-Trait-Anxiety-Scale (STAI) and children's anxiety was evaluated with the Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS). Midazolam, ketamine, propofol, and fentanyl were administered for the children’s sedation. There were 2 comparisons in this study, the anxiety of parents according to mean STAI scores, and anxiety of children according to mYPAS scores. 
 Results: Of 120 children and parents, 87 parents (73%) and 57 children (48%) had high anxiety. Of 120 parents, 111 parents (92%) were mothers of the children. Younger children had higher anxiety levels. Before and the start of the GIE heart rates of children were higher both in the high anxiety group of parents and children. In sedatives, high anxiety parents’ children and high anxiety children were required more ketamine dosages. (p