Emergence delirium has no influence on children's behavior three months after surgery

Emergence delirium has no influence on children's behavior three months after surgery

Emergence delirium -; a confused state during the recovery period from anesthesia, which may include disorientation, hallucinations, restlessness and aimless hyperactivity -; has no effect on a child's behavior three months after surgery, according to a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2022 Annual Meeting.

Sitting in the waiting room while your child undergoes surgery is always a worrying time for parents, and even more worrying is watching your child display unusual behaviors such as inconsolability, unresponsiveness, agitation or incoherence after anesthesia. We wanted to find out whether there was a connection between the children who showed emergence delirium, a common problem in young children after surgery, and behavioral changes three months later.

Amira Joseph, MD, lead study author and anesthesiology resident, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota

Between September 2018 and February 2021, 68 preschool children aged 2.5 to 6 years were included in the study. Behavior was measured twice using the Behavior Assessment System for Children –; preoperatively (one week to one day before anesthesia) and three months postoperatively. Ear, nose and throat procedures were performed most frequently. The mean duration of anesthesia was 75 minutes. Emergence delirium occurred in 35 percent of the children.

The study found that there were no measurable behavioral problems three months after surgery, regardless of emergent delirium.

“It was previously unknown whether emergence delirium affects children’s behavior in the long term,” said Dr. Joseph. “Our study provides reassurance to health care providers and parents of children requiring surgery that the administration of general anesthesia will not result in long-term behavioral problems.”

Source:

American Society of Anesthesiologists

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