TY - JOUR
AU - A. Faulk
AU - J. Power
AU - H. Mejia
AU - M. Dunnam
AU - H. Dimmitt
AU - A. Osborne
AU - L. Flowers
AU - R. Guilbeau
AU - D. C. Yu
AU - J. A. Zagory
A1 - 
AB - INTRODUCTION: Periprocedural anxiety is common in pediatric patients and is characterized by tension, anxiety, irritability, and autonomic activation. Periprocedural anxiety increases during certain events including admission to the preoperative area, separation from caregivers, induction of anesthesia, and IV placement. A study of children aged 2-12 showed that perioperative anxiety in children may be influenced by high parental anxiety and low sociability of the child. While these are nonmodifiable variables in the perioperative setting, there are numerous ways to ameliorate both parental and patient anxiety including the use of certified child life specialists (CCLSs) to aid in child comfort. In this study, our objective was to evaluate the integration of CCLS in our perioperative setting on the rate of benzodiazepine use. METHODS: We used a prospectively maintained database to identify patients undergoing outpatient elective surgical and radiologic procedures from July 2022 to September 2023 and January 2023 to September 2023 respectively. CCLSs were used to work with appropriately aged children in order to decrease the use of benzodiazepines and reduce possible adverse events associated with their use. RESULTS: A total of 2175 pediatric patients were seen by CCLS in same day surgery from July 2022 to September 2023. During this period, midazolam use decreased by an average of 11.4% (range 6.2%-19.3%). An even greater effect was seen in the radiologic group with 73% reduction. No adverse events were reported during this period. CONCLUSIONS: CCLSs working with age-appropriate patients in the periprocedural setting is a useful adjunct in easing anxiety in pediatric patients, reducing the need for periprocedural benzodiazepine administration and the risk of exposure to unintended side effects.
AD - Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.; Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.; Department of Child Life Services, Children's Hospital New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana.; Department of Perioperative Services, Children's Hospital New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana.; Children's Hospital New Orleans, Service Line for Pediatric Surgery, New Orleans, Louisiana; Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.; Children's Hospital New Orleans, Service Line for Pediatric Surgery, New Orleans, Louisiana; Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana. Electronic address: jzagor@lsuhsc.edu.
AN - 38626718
BT - J Surg Res
C5 - Healthcare Disparities; Education & Workforce
DA - Jun
DO - 10.1016/j.jss.2024.03.022
DP - NLM
ET - 20240415
JF - J Surg Res
LA - eng
N2 - INTRODUCTION: Periprocedural anxiety is common in pediatric patients and is characterized by tension, anxiety, irritability, and autonomic activation. Periprocedural anxiety increases during certain events including admission to the preoperative area, separation from caregivers, induction of anesthesia, and IV placement. A study of children aged 2-12 showed that perioperative anxiety in children may be influenced by high parental anxiety and low sociability of the child. While these are nonmodifiable variables in the perioperative setting, there are numerous ways to ameliorate both parental and patient anxiety including the use of certified child life specialists (CCLSs) to aid in child comfort. In this study, our objective was to evaluate the integration of CCLS in our perioperative setting on the rate of benzodiazepine use. METHODS: We used a prospectively maintained database to identify patients undergoing outpatient elective surgical and radiologic procedures from July 2022 to September 2023 and January 2023 to September 2023 respectively. CCLSs were used to work with appropriately aged children in order to decrease the use of benzodiazepines and reduce possible adverse events associated with their use. RESULTS: A total of 2175 pediatric patients were seen by CCLS in same day surgery from July 2022 to September 2023. During this period, midazolam use decreased by an average of 11.4% (range 6.2%-19.3%). An even greater effect was seen in the radiologic group with 73% reduction. No adverse events were reported during this period. CONCLUSIONS: CCLSs working with age-appropriate patients in the periprocedural setting is a useful adjunct in easing anxiety in pediatric patients, reducing the need for periprocedural benzodiazepine administration and the risk of exposure to unintended side effects.
PY - 2024
SN - 0022-4804
SP - 209
EP - 213+
ST - Integration of Certified Child Life Specialists to Decrease in Periprocedural Benzodiazepine Use: A Pilot Study
T1 - Integration of Certified Child Life Specialists to Decrease in Periprocedural Benzodiazepine Use: A Pilot Study
T2 - J Surg Res
TI - Integration of Certified Child Life Specialists to Decrease in Periprocedural Benzodiazepine Use: A Pilot Study
U1 - Healthcare Disparities; Education & Workforce
U3 - 10.1016/j.jss.2024.03.022
VL - 298
VO - 0022-4804
Y1 - 2024
ER -