Abstract
Parents of 50 unpremedicated children were invited to be present during induction of anaesthesia in their children. The presence of the parents resulted in a significant decrease in the number of very upset or turbulent children during the pre-induction and induction periods, when compared to a control group that was induced without the parents’ participation. There was no difference in the children’s behaviour in the recovery room or at home following surgery. Most parents were calm and supportive during induction, and there were no complications related to their presence. It is concluded that for some preschool children, allowing the parents to support an anxious child during anaesthesia induction can be very effective in relieving anxiety, and minimizes the need for premedication.
Résumé
On a invité les parents de cinquante enfants ágés d’un à cinq ans à être présents pendant l’induction de l’anesthésie chez leurs enfants. Lorsqu’on compara ce groupe à un groupe-témoin de cinquante patients recevant l’anesthésie sans la participation de leurs parents, on observa que la présence des parents diminua l’agitation et la turbulence de certains enfants pendant la période de pré-induction et pendant l’induction elle-même. On n’observa pas de différence dans l’attitude des enfants dans la salle de réveil ni chez eux. La plupart des parents restèrent calmes et encourageants pendant l’induction et ne causèrent pas de complications par leur présence. Nous concluons done que pour certains enfants d’âge pré-scolaire, il serait bon de permettre aux parents d’encourager leurs enfants anxieux pendant l’induction de l’anesthésie. Cela serait efficace afin de soulager l’anxiété et de réduire le besoin d’une prémédication.
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Hannallah, R.S., Rosales, J.K. Experience with parents’ presence during anaesthesia induction in children. Can Anaesth Soc J 30, 286–289 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03013809
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03013809