iPads help calm children before surgery

Editor's Note

Children who played games on an Apple iPad before surgery had a reduction in their stress levels equal to the effect of taking a sedative, according to a study presented at the World Congress of Anaesthesiologists in Hong Kong.

In addition, parental satisfaction and quality of anesthesia induction was higher in children using iPads.

The researchers compared the effects of midazolam with games on an iPad in children aged 4 to 10 years during and after ambulatory surgery. Anxiety was assessed in both children and parents.

1Anesthesia, Hopital Mere Enfant Hospices Civils de Lyon, 2Anesthesia, Hopital Mere Enfant Hospices Civils de Lyon, 3 EPICIME, Hopital Mere Enfant Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France