RELAX Anaesthetics: the Effect of a Bespoke Relaxation App on Stress Levels in Children Undergoing Anaesthesia

The most distressing part of a parent's experience in hospital is watching a child undergo intravenous cannulation.1 This is commonly performed in the anaesthetic room prior to induction of anaesthesia. At Chelsea and Westminster Foundation Trust (CWFT) over 5000 children undergo operations every year. Traditional methods of distracting the child during have included blowing bubbles, storybooks, and a variety of toys and games. These methods are not always effective and may present an infection risk due to inability to clean between uses.

The use of an android/iPad provides a platform for effectively distracting the child with a choice of games, video and music, with the advantage of being cleaned between uses. Users of this platform are required to select the application that is most appropriate for the age, sex, method of anaesthesia, and compliance level of the child. To assist with this, the investigators have developed an application system that will select a range of entertainment applications appropriate for each child based on these four variables and hopefully help to keep children calm before their operations.

Inclusion criteria

• children ages 2 -12 years
• requiring general anaesthesia
• ASA assessment of fitness for surgery score 1 - 3

Exclusion criteria

• intravenous cannula already in situ
• play therapist already in use
• anaesthetist refusal to participate
• parental / patient refusal to participate
• sedative or opiate pre-med already administered
• not requiring general anaesthesia
• ASA assessment of fitness for surgery score 4 or 5