Key result
Following paediatric daycase anaesthesia, 25% of children experienced pain at home and 45% of parents reported anxiety, although 94% were satisfied with the anaesthetic.
Observational (n=104)
Despite high overall parent satisfaction, a significant proportion of children experience pain and parents experience anxiety at home following daycase anaesthesia, indicating a need for better take-home analgesia and support.
The aim of this clinical audit was to evaluate the home recovery and complications of 104 daycase anaesthetized children, as well as parent satisfaction. A questionnaire, explained at the time of preoperative visit, was given to parents at hospital discharge and returned by mail. Opioids were administered in 19% of the children whereas regional anaesthesia was performed in 28% of cases. In the recovery room, 8% of them suffered pain. At home, pain was the main problem (25%) and vomiting and agitation were found in 9% and 6% of the cases respectively. Parents reported anxiety in 45% of cases, and 14% called their general practitioner. Nevertheless, 94% were satisfied with the anaesthetic. A clinical audit is useful in detecting management deficiencies. Quality of home recovery may be improved by: wider use of perioperative analgesia, systematic prescription of take-home analgesia, designation of a hospital practitioner for advice, and closer collaboration with general practitioners.
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Grenier et al. (1998) conducted an observational in Daycase anaesthesia (n=104). Daycase anaesthesia was evaluated on Home recovery, complications, and parent satisfaction. Following paediatric daycase anaesthesia, 25% of children experienced pain at home and 45% of parents reported anxiety, although 94% were satisfied with the anaesthetic.
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