Effect of caregiver’s recorded voice on emergence delirium in children undergoing dental surgery

Abstract

Background: Emergence delirium (ED) is a distressing and harmful postoperative complication following general anaesthesia. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of ED in children listening to either a recording of their caregiver’s voice or a stranger’s voice, during emergence from general anaesthesia for elective dental surgery, at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital. Methods: A prospective, randomised and contextual study design was implemented with convenience sampling. This study included children between 2 –6 years of age who were randomly assigned to caregiver voice group (Group C) or stranger voice group (Group S). Results: The ED incidence within the total sample was 11 (16.9%). In Group S, 4 (15.4%) children had ED, whereas in Group C, 7 (25%) children had ED (p=0.475). There was no significant difference in Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) scale and the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability (FLACC) scores between the two groups. The time from completion of surgery to first purposeful movement and to tracheal extubation was similar in Groups C and S (p=0.595, p=0.992 respectively). ED management and duration in the recovery room were also similar (p=0.300, p=0.326 respectively). There was an overall strong positive correlation between highest FLACC and highest PAED scale scores (r=0.827, p<0 .0001). Conclusion: The PAED scale scores and the ED incidence were similar in children who listened to either a recording of their caregiver’s voice or a stranger’s voice