Page 34 - CASA Bulletin of Anesthesiology Vol 9 (4) 2022 (3)

CASA Bulletin of Anesthesiology

inside the mask. Smelling a scent like Coca-Cola, watermelon, or M&Ms feels a lot less scary
when it is time for anesthesia induction.

A frequent stressor we have found patients experience is hearing the phrase “put you to
sleep,” as this is a phrase many children associate with a pet being put down. Use the phrase
“help you go to sleep” instead. Additionally, emphasizing that being under anesthesia is a
different kind of sleep than when the patient goes to sleep at home; the “sleepy medicine” makes
sure that patients will not wake up in the middle of surgery even if there is a loud noise or people
talking, they will only wake up once the procedure is over and the anesthesiologist stops
administering their medications.

Tips when working with parents and caregivers

Listen!

Parents and caregivers usually know their child best and are good judges of how they will do
in the hospital environment.

If their child has never had a procedure done with anesthesia before, ask them how their
behavior is at the doctor to gauge their behavior in medical settings. Additionally, asking
caregivers if their child has ever had to do breathing treatments may give insight into how they
will tolerate an anesthesia mask on their face?

In summary, preoperative anxiety is very common in the pediatric population. The
involvement of child life specialists is very helpful to make the anesthesia and surgery much less
fearful and stressful.

References
1. Gulur P, Kain Z, Fortier M. Psychological aspects of pediatric anesthesia. Smith Anesthesia for Infants and
Children, ninth edition, chapter 14, 266-277
2. Cote C, Lerman J, Anderson B. The practice of pediatric anesthesia. A Practice of Anesthesia for Infants and
Children, 5 edition, chapter 1, 1-6
th
3. Ghazal E, Mason L, Cote C. Preoperative evaluation, premedication and induction of anesthesia. A Practice of
Anesthesia for Infants and Children, 5 edition, chapter 4, 31-64
th
4. Ahmadipour M, Sattari H , Nejad MA. Incidence and risk factors related to anxiety of children and adolescents
before elective surgery Eur J Transl Myol 32 (2): 10449, 2022
5. Dong SZ, Zhu M,Bulas D. Techniques for minimizing sedation in pediatric MRI. J. MAGN. RESON.
IMAGING 2019;50:1047–1054
6. Brewwe S, Gleditsch S L, Syblik D, Tietjens M, VAcik H. Pediatric anxiety: child life intervention in day
surgery. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, Vol 21, No 1 (February), 2006
7. Banca R, . Butler D A , Volkening L K , Laffel LM. Play-based interventions delivered by child life
specialists: teachable moments for youth with type 1 diabetes . J Pediatr Health Care. (2020) 34, 356-365
8. Getchell K, McCowan K, Whooley E, Dumais C, Rosenstock A, Cole A, DeGrazia M. Child life specialists
decrease procedure time, improve experience, and reduce fear in an outpatient blood drawing lab. Journal of
Patient Experience, Volume 9: 1-7, 2022

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