Abstract
Echocardiography is currently the main diagnostic technique in pediatric cardiology, but sometimes it is difficult to use in very young children, as a complete and accurate study depends on the patient's and family's cooperation. Children's behavior is one of the main problems for this procedure, and interventions like sedative medication have been used to facilitate its performance. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of TV entertainment in infants and preschool children during echocardiography. We designed an experimental study in children with a heart murmur. An examination room was prepared with a TV on the ceiling, giving the children an unobstructed view during the echocardiography procedure. Fifty-eight patients were randomized into two groups: TV intervention vs. usual care (consisting of other distraction measures). The primary outcome was echocardiography time, but we also assessed blood pressure, quality of technique, child behavior, and parents' stress level. The TV group showed a statistically significant reduction in duration of the echocardiography and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as better quality of technique and child behavior. Consequently, we recommend the use of a TV as a simple and useful distraction method for improving echocardiography in young children.
Highlights
Echocardiography is a noninvasive procedure and is the first option for studying children with suspected congenital or acquired cardiac disease [1, 2]
Groups were comparable in terms of patient characteristics such as age and sex
Regarding the question “Do you think that the intervention group (TV) is useful?,” 85% of the parents answered affirmatively
Summary
Echocardiography is a noninvasive procedure and is the first option for studying children with suspected congenital or acquired cardiac disease [1, 2]. A complete and accurate study depends on patients’ and their parents’ cooperation. The behavior of children under 3.5 years old sometimes makes it impossible to perform an echocardiography, prompting the application of interventions such as sedative medication [3]. Even though chloral hydrate is one of the safest and most frequently used procedures, it is not without risks. In order to quickly detect and treat adverse effects, the sedated patient must be continuously observed and monitored for all hemodynamic parameters, including oxygen saturation, heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure [4].
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