Induction in the Dark

Mask acceptance during inhalational mask induction as measured by the mask acceptance scale (MAS). The MAS is scored on a scale from 1-4 by evaluating if the child is calm and accepting of the mask (4), slightly scared but easily calmed (3), has moderate fear of the mask and is not easily calmed (2), or cries, screams, or is terrified (1) during induction when using the inhalation mask. A higher score is better.

Perioperative anxiety will be measured using the modified Yale perioperative anxiety scale (mYpas) at two different time points; the first will be measured preoperatively in holding, and the other will be measured again during the entry to the operating room. The mYpas consists of 22 items, divided into five categories: activity, vocalizations, emotional expressivity, state of apparent arousal, and use of parent. The evaluator will rate the subject in each category (he highest behavioral level observed in each of the five m-YPAS categories is the score for that category), then divide each item rating by the highest possible rating, add all of the produced values, multiply by 100, then divide by 2. The lower the score, the less anxiety the patient is exhibiting.

After the induction period of anesthesia is over, the parent or guardian who accompanied the child to the operating room and was present for induction will complete a satisfaction survey. There are 6 questions rated from 1-5 (1 being strongly disagree, and 5 being strongly agree) asking how they felt about the induction experience. There is one question asking about how the parent felt about the child's acceptance of the mask during induction. This is rated from 1 (poor) to 4 (excellent). The scores given for each question are added up. Scores can range from 7-29. The higher the score, the better outcome and higher satisfaction.

Once in the PACU, the patient will be evaluated for emergence delirium using the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) Scale. The evaluator will answer 3 questions about the patient's actions on a scale from 0 (extremely) to not at all (1), then an additional 2 questions about restlessness and inconsolable, scored from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely. The scores are added up. The total score can range from 0-20, and the lower the score, the better.

At Day 1 Post-Op and again at Day 7 Post Op, a parent or guardian will answer a series of 27 questions that evaluate the child for behavioral changes occurring post-operatively by using the Post-Hospitalization Behavior Questionnaire (PHBQ). The rating scale for this assessment has 5 response options: (1) less than before (2), same as before (3), more than before (4), and much more than before (5). The answerers are added up with a possible range of 27-135. The lower the score, the less behavioral changes have occurred since the procedure.

The time in recovery will be measured from time in recovery starts, to time of discharge.