Reducing noise in the OR improves children’s postop behavior

Editor's Note

Reducing noise in the OR positively affects children’s postoperative behavior, according to research presented October 24 at the Anesthesiology 2022 annual meeting in New Orleans.

The study, led by researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, included 64 preschool children (ages 4 to 5 years old) having general anesthesia for tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy or dental procedures lasting at least 30 minutes.

The children were randomized to a reduced noise group (33 children) that had low ambient lighting, muted communication devices, and reduced OR personnel, or a control group (31 children).

Children in the reduced noise group had fewer temper tantrums, were less fussy about eating, and were more interested in what was going on around them in the first 5 days after surgery.

A quiet environment may positively affect a child’s behavior after general anesthesia, similar to having a quite environment for a good night’s sleep, the researchers note.