Effect of parental presence on anxiety of children during induction of anesthesia with sevoflurane

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of parental presence on the anxiety of children during induction of anesthesia with sevoflurane. Methods One hundred and twenty children (ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ ) aged 2-12 yr weighing 12-32 kg were assigned to one of 2 groups using a random number table ( n = 60 each): control group (group C) and parental presence group (group P). Preoperatiave visit was made the day before surgery in both groups. In group P a parent played with toys with the children for 15 min before induction of anesthesia, while in group C a nurse played with them. Anesthesia was induced with 8% sevoflurane in O2 delivered at 6 L/min through a scented face mask held by the parent or anesthesiologist talking with them in soft words. Modified Yale preoperative anxiety scale (mYPAS) was used to measure anxiety of the children during preoperative visit, before and during induction of anesthesia. Induction compliance checklist (ICC) was used to measure behavioral compliance during induction. ICC score ＞ 5 implied failure of induction of anesthesia with sevoflurane. Adverse events were recorded. Results The mYPAS scores were significantly lower before and during induction of anesthesia in group P than in group C (P ＜ 0.05), but there was no significant difference in ICC scores between the 2 groups ( P ＞0.05). There was no failure of induction in group P while in group C there were 3 failures. Cough occurred in 2 patients in group P but in 3 patients in group C. One patient vomited during induction of anesthesia in group C.Conclusion Parental presence is effective in reducing anxiety of children during induction of anesthesia. Key words: Child; Parents; Anxiety; Anesthesia; Anesthetics, inhalation