Detecting intraoperative awareness in children by using a special auditory intervention

Abstract

Objective To determine the feasibility of using a special auditory intervention to detect intraoperative awareness in children under general anesthesia. Methods Thirty-four ASA I or II children aged 5-15 yr weighing 16-73 kg undergoing scofiosis were enrolled in this study. Intraoperative wake-up test was performed during operation. Two easily identified animal noises （60 dB, lasting 15 s） were played through head phones before induction of anesthesia and immediately after the intraoperafive wake-up test. Children were interviewed on the 1st and 5th-7th days after surgery to assess their awareness of intraoperative wake-up test and special auditory intervention. Results Four children were excluded from the study because of restlessness during the intraoperative wake-up test or their refusal to be interviewed. From the remaining 30 children,4 children were suspected to be aware of intraoperative wake-up test. Awareness was comfirmed in 3 children and suspected in one child. The incidence of awareness of intraoperative wake-up test was 10% . But only one of them could tell the animal sound played during the wake-up test. All the patients in this study had explicit recall of the animal noises played before induction of anesthesia. Conclusion Special auditory intervention can not detect intraoperative awareness in children under general anesthesia. Key words: Acoustic stimulation; Child ; Awareness