Development of a playful video as an alternative to pre-anesthetic medications used in the pre-operative period of pediatric surgeries

Abstract

From 50 to 75% of children who will undergo surgical procedures suffer from preoperative anxiety. To minimize trauma and fear in pediatric patients, pediatric anesthesiologists can use sedative medications from varying pharmacological classes. However, these drugs have side effects and act synergistically with other drugs in the perioperative period, contributing to the development of agitation upon emergence from anesthesia and delays in hospital discharge. This study aims to describe an original playful video that was developed in a cartoon
format, the main character of which is a child in a hospital. It shows all stages from pre-operation to arriving at the surgical center and healthcare providers and their interaction with the main character to create identifica-
tion and bring hospital reality closer to the world of children, thereby minimizing anxiety in patients undergoing surgical procedures. This audiovisual instrument is cheap and easy to apply and could offer an alternative
to pre-anesthetics commonly used in the preoperative period of the pediatric population.