Psychological aspects of pediatric anesthesia

Surgery and anesthesia cause a significant emotional stress in both parents and children. Since the consequences of this stress develop immediately after surgery and can last even when the hospital treatment is over, the role of the anesthesiologist is to ensure psychological as well as physiological well-being of the patient. In order to reduce emotional stress induced by anesthesia and operation, the anesthesiologist has to understand certain developmental phases that children go through and to identify situations which a child could potentially see as a danger or a threat. This can usually be achieved by careful preoperative assessment and by administering preoperative sedation. During the preoperative visit to the patient, the anesthesiologist can evaluate the levels of anxiety of both parents and children as well as assess the child's medical condition.