Does Distraction With a Hand Held Video Game Reduce Preoperative and Emergence Anxiety in Children?

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

Status

Completed

Conditions

Pediatric Emergence Agitation and Pain

Treatments

Drug: Midazolam

Device: Game Boy

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT00932685

0120030315A

Details and patient eligibility

About

Preoperative anxiety is characterized by subjective feelings of tension, apprehension, nervousness and worry. In children, preoperative anxiety is reported to result in postoperative negative psychological effects, including nightmares, eating problems and increased fear of doctors. Previous studies have assessed anxiety in children during the preoperative period and the effects of premedication and parental presence. Midazolzam has been shown to reduce preoperative anxiety in children but post operative recovery maybe delayed for children undergoing a short operative procedure. Distraction may be particularly helpful in children ages 6-12 as these children are curious about their environment. An association between preoperative anxiety and emergence agitation has been suggested. Emergence agitation in children is not well understood but is a frightening experience for child and parent. A previous study demonstrated the efficacy of hand held video games used as an interactive distraction to allay preoperative anxiety. The purpose of this study is to treat preop anxiety with premedication, or video game and to evaluate the impact of these interventions on the incidence and severity of emergence agitation.

Enrollment

119 patients

Sex

All

Ages

4 to 12 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

ASA rating of I-II Mask induction of General Anesthesia

Exclusion criteria

Emergency surgery Children who have developmental disabilities or chronic illness Children who have had repetitive surgeries Children who have excessive anxiety attacks or who are currently on benzopaines