The Perioperative Validity of the Visual Analog Anxiety Scale in Children: A Discriminant and Useful Instrument in Routine Clinical Practice to Optimize Postoperative Pain Management

VAS-anxiety is a useful and valid tool to assess perioperative anxiety in children aged 7-16 yr. The influence of children's and parents' anxiety on children's postoperative pain suggests that VAS-anxiety should be recommended routinely for postoperative clinical practice to optimize anxiety and pain management.