Sensory stimuli and anxiety in children undergoing surgery: A randomized, controlled trial

We assessed the effectiveness of a behavioral intervention aimed at reducin g the anxiety of children undergoing anesthesia and surgery. The interventi on consisted of dimmed opera ting room (OR) lights (200 Lx) and soft backgr ound music (Bach's "Air on a G String," 50-60 dB). Only one person, the att ending anesthesiologist, interacted with the child during the induction of anesthesia. Children undergoing anesthesia and surgery were randomly assign ed either to a low sensory stimulation group (LSSG, n = 33) or to control g roup (n = 37). By using validated behavioral measures of anxiety (mYPAS) an d compliance (ICC), children were evaluated at the preoperative holding are a and during the induction of anesthesia On postoperative Days 1, 2, 3, 7, and 14, the behavioral recovery of the children was assessed by using the P ost Hospitalization Behavior Questionnaire. We found that the LSSG was sign ificantly less anxious compared with the control group on entrance to the O R (P = 0.03) and on the introduction of the anesthesia mask (P = 0.003). Al so, the compliance during the induction of anesthesia was significantly bet ter in children assigned to the LSSG (P = 0.02). The incidence of postopera tive behavioral changes, however, did not differ significantly between the two groups (P = ns). We conclude that children who are exposed to low-level sensory stimuli during the induction of anesthesia and who are exposed to background music exhibit lower levels of anxiety and increased compliance.