OBJECTIVE: Emergence delirium (ED) presents challenges for both parents and health care providers in pediatric surgical settings. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (VR) distraction and video distraction combined with parental presence in reducing ED in preschool-aged children undergoing elective surgery.
METHODS: A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted with 90 children ages 4 to 7. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: VR distraction (group V), tablet video distraction with parental presence (group T), and standard care (group C). The primary endpoints were the incidence of ED and Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium Scale scores, with secondary measures encompassing scores from the Parental Separation Anxiety Scale and the Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale.
METHODS: Participants were assigned to one of the three intervention groups, and relevant scales were used to assess ED, parental separation anxiety, and postoperative pain. The immersive VR distraction and video distraction with parental presence interventions were compared against standard care.
RESULTS: Immersive VR distraction significantly reduced the incidence of ED (6.67% in group V vs 40% in group T and 60% in group C), and the incidence of ED in group V was notably lower than in the other groups (P = .023 vs group T and P = .004 vs group C). Children in group V displayed significantly lower FLACC compared with the other groups as well (P < .05). However, no significant differences between the 3 groups were observed in perioperative anxiety as assessed by the Parental Separation Anxiety Scale scores (P = .27).
CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the potential of immersive VR distraction as an effective intervention for mitigating ED in pediatric surgical patients. The findings suggest that incorporating VR technology during the perioperative period can positively impact postoperative outcomes. Further research in diverse surgical contexts is recommended to validate these findings and explore the broader applicability of VR distraction in pediatric health care settings.

BACKGROUND: Over the last two decades, a large body of literature has focused on studying the prevalence and outcome of the postoperative delirium and sleep disturbance. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of intraoperative administration of Magnesium sulphate on the occurrence of post-operative delirium and insomnia in patients undergoing lumbar fixation.
METHODS: This prospective randomized controlled trial was carried out on 80 patients indicated for lumbar fixation; 40 of them received conventional general anesthesia with extra administration of intraoperative magnesium sulphate (Mg sulphate group), and the other 40 received conventional general anesthesia only (control group). Both groups were submitted to pre-operative assessment of depression using Beck Depression inventory (BDI) scale, pre-operative assessment of fatigue using a fatigue questionnaire, pre- and post-operative assessment of insomnia using Insomnia severity index (ISI), post-operative assessment of delirium using Memorial delirium assessment scale (MDAS), post-operative assessment of pain using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and pre- and post-operative Quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG).
RESULTS: Mg sulphate administration, age, pre-operative BDI, pre-operative ISI, and post-operative VAS were independent predictors of post-operative ISI (P-value < 0.001, 0.047, 0.021, < 0.001, and < 0.001 respectively). Age and post-operative VAS were independent predictors of post-operative MDAS (P-value = 0.008, 0.013 respectively). Mg sulphate administration and pre-operative ISI were independent predictors of post-operative VAS (P-value = 0.010, 0.006 respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant relationship between intraoperative Mg sulphate administration and both post-operative insomnia and pain in unadjusted and adjusted analysis.

BACKGROUND: Selective posterior rhizotomy (SPR) is a preferred procedure for relieving spastic children with cerebral palsy, but it is associated with severe pain and significant emergence agitation (EA). The thoracolumbar interfascial plane (TLIP) block provides an effective blockade to the dorsal branch of the spinal nerve. We hypothesise that the TLIP block may be an effective tool to alleviate EA and postoperative pain scores in children with cerebral palsy undergoing SPR.
METHODS: This study is a single-centre, randomised, parallel-controlled trial being conducted in Beijing, China. A total of 50 paediatric patients with cerebral palsy scheduled for SPR are randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive bilateral TLIP block with 0.2% ropivacaine 0.5 mL/kg or control. Patients in the TLIP group receive general anaesthesia combined with TLIP block, while patients in the control group receive only general anaesthesia, without a TLIP block. The primary outcome is the Paediatric Anaesthesia Emergence Delirium Score. The secondary outcomes are the incidence of EA, the Wong-Baker Faces Pain-rating Scale, the perioperative haemodynamics, the intraoperative remifentanil and propofol dosage, the extubation time and recovery time, and adverse reactions.
BACKGROUND: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine on 21 September 2023 (2023DZMEC-379-02). Written informed consent is obtained from the legal guardian of each patient. The results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed international journals.
BACKGROUND: ChiCTR2300076397.

UNASSIGNED: To investigate the effects of nalbuphine on emergency agitation (EA), which affects up to 80% of the children following otolaryngology procedures, in children undergoing cochlear implantation.
UNASSIGNED: A prospective double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted between November 2020 and October 2022. Eligible children, aged 6 months to 3 years old, were randomly assigned to either 0.1 mg/kg, 0.15 mg/kg, 0.2 mg/kg nalbuphine or 0.9% saline groups. EA was defined by the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) score ≥10. Extubation time, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) length of stay, severe EA (PAED ≥ 15), peak PAED score, the Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) scale, Ramsay sedation score, and adverse events were also recorded.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 104 children were enrolled, with 26 children in each group. Nalbuphine significantly reduced the EA occurrence from 73.1% in the saline group to 38.5%, 30.8%, and 26.9% in the 0.1 mg/kg, 0.15 mg/kg, and 0.2 mg/kg nalbuphine groups, respectively (P < 0.001), without affecting the extubation time and PACU length of stay. More children (34.6%) in the 0.9% saline group experienced severe EA. Higher dose nalbuphine (0.15 mg/kg, 0.2 mg/kg) showed lower peak PAED score, better analgesia and sedation effect compared with 0.1 mg/kg nalbuphine and saline groups. However, 0.2mg/kg nalbuphine caused undesired over-sedation in two (7.7%) children. No other adverse events were reported.
UNASSIGNED: Young children undergoing cochlear implantation surgery were at a high risk of EA and postoperative pain, while 0.2 mg/kg nalbuphine might be an ideal candidate for EA and pain prevention when used under close monitoring.
UNASSIGNED: ChiCTR2000040407.

Background: Remimazolam, a new ultrashort-acting benzodiazepine, is becoming increasingly applied in general anesthesia. This study is designed to investigate the effect of remimazolam-based total intravenous anesthesia and sevoflurane-based inhalation anesthesia on emergence delirium in pediatric tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Methods and analysis: This is a monocentric, prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. A total of 90 pediatric patients will be randomized to receive remimazolam-based total intravenous anesthesia (remimazolam group, n = 45) or sevoflurane-based inhalation anesthesia (sevoflurane group, n = 45). The primary outcome will be the incidence of emergence delirium, which will be evaluated using the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) scale. The secondary outcomes include the extubation time, recovery time, behavior change using the post-hospitalization behavior questionnaire for ambulatory surgery (PHBQ-AS), and adverse events. Ethics and dissemination: This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children\'s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University (2023-K-262-02). Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT06214117.

Background/Objectives: Preoperative fasting guidelines traditionally aim to reduce pulmonary aspiration risk. However, concerns over the adverse effects of prolonged fasting have led to exploring alternatives. This study aimed to investigate the impact of preoperative clear liquid intake on postoperative outcomes in children undergoing minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE). Methods: A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted on children aged 3-6 years scheduled for elective MIRPE. Patients were randomized into either a routine overnight fasting group (NPO) or a clear liquid group. The incidence and severity of emergence delirium (ED) were assessed using Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) and Watcha scales at recovery room. Postoperative pain scores and opioid requirements were evaluated at intervals of 1-6 h, 6-12 h, and 12-24 h after surgery. Results: Fasting time was 178.6 ± 149.5 min and 608.9 ± 148.4 min in the clear liquid group compared and NPO group, respectively. The incidence of ED, measured by PAED and Watcha scales, was lower in the clear liquid group (PAED score ≥ 12: 55.6% vs. 85.2%, p = 0.037; Watcha score ≥ 3: 51.9% vs. 85.2%, p = 0.019). The highest PAED score recorded in the recovery room was significantly lower in the clear liquid group (11.4 ± 2.8 vs. 14.6 ± 2.8, p < 0.001). Clear liquid group showed significantly lower pain scores at 1-6, 6-12, and 12-24 h postoperatively. Additionally, clear liquid group had lower opioid requirement at 1-6 and 6-12 h postoperatively. Conclusions: Preoperative clear liquid consumption was associated with a lower incidence of ED in pediatric patients undergoing MIRPE.

暂无摘要。

The current study was designed to evaluate the role of prophylactic melatonin administration in reducing delirium occurrence in elderly patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgeries.
One hundred patients of both genders undergoing elective colorectal cancer surgeries under general anesthesia were randomly allocated into two equal groups. A treatment group of patients (Melatonin group) received five mg of melatonin the night before surgery, twelve hours before the scheduled surgery time, and an additional five mg of melatonin two hours before surgery. The control group of patients received placebo tablets at the same time points. Delirium score, sedation score, pain score, hemodynamics, oxygen saturation, and blood requirements were recorded.
Twenty-eight patients (56%) in the control group versus 18 (36%) in the melatonin group developed delirium (P=0.045), OR=2.26, 95% CI: 1.013-5.05. Five patients (18%) in the control group versus six (33%) ‎in the melatonin group developed delirium on discharge from the ‎recovery room (P=0.749), OR=1.22, 95% CI: 0.34-4.31, while 23 patients (82%) in the control group versus ‎‎12 (66%) in the melatonin group developed delirium six hours postoperative (P=0.021), OR=1.705, 95% CI: 1.02-2.81 ‎with higher nursing delirium screening score in the control group 2 (1, 4) versus 1 (0, 2) in the melatonin group (P=0.002), 95% CI: 1.77-2.71.
The prophylactic administration of melatonin may decrease the incidence of postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing colorectal surgeries under general anesthesia.

Intraoperative electroencephalogram (EEG) waveform suppression, suggesting excessive general anesthesia, has been associated with postoperative delirium.
To assess whether EEG-guided anesthesia decreases the incidence of delirium after cardiac surgery.
Randomized, parallel-group clinical trial of 1140 adults 60 years or older undergoing cardiac surgery at 4 Canadian hospitals. Recruitment was from December 2016 to February 2022, with follow-up until February 2023.
Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio (stratified by hospital) to receive EEG-guided anesthesia (n = 567) or usual care (n = 573). Patients and those assessing outcomes were blinded to group assignment.
The primary outcome was delirium during postoperative days 1 through 5. Intraoperative measures included anesthetic concentration and EEG suppression time. Secondary outcomes included intensive care and hospital length of stay. Serious adverse events included intraoperative awareness, medical complications, and 30-day mortality.
Of 1140 randomized patients (median [IQR] age, 70 [65-75] years; 282 [24.7%] women), 1131 (99.2%) were assessed for the primary outcome. Delirium during postoperative days 1 to 5 occurred in 102 of 562 patients (18.15%) in the EEG-guided group and 103 of 569 patients (18.10%) in the usual care group (difference, 0.05% [95% CI, -4.57% to 4.67%]). In the EEG-guided group compared with the usual care group, the median volatile anesthetic minimum alveolar concentration was 0.14 (95% CI, 0.15 to 0.13) lower (0.66 vs 0.80) and there was a 7.7-minute (95% CI, 10.6 to 4.7) decrease in the median total time spent with EEG suppression (4.0 vs 11.7 min). There were no significant differences between groups in median length of intensive care unit (difference, 0 days [95% CI, -0.31 to 0.31]) or hospital stay (difference, 0 days [95% CI, -0.94 to 0.94]). No patients reported intraoperative awareness. Medical complications occurred in 64 of 567 patients (11.3%) in the EEG-guided group and 73 of 573 (12.7%) in the usual care group. Thirty-day mortality occurred in 8 of 567 patients (1.4%) in the EEG-guided group and 13 of 573 (2.3%) in the usual care group.
Among older adults undergoing cardiac surgery, EEG-guided anesthetic administration to minimize EEG suppression, compared with usual care, did not decrease the incidence of postoperative delirium. This finding does not support EEG-guided anesthesia for this indication.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02692300.

BACKGROUND Emergence agitation, or delirium, occurs during early recovery from general anesthesia and involves disorientation, excitation, and uncontrolled physical movements. Dexmedetomidine is an alpha agonist that has sedative, anxiolytic, analgesic, and sympatholytic activities and is used as a continuous infusion to prevent emergence agitation. This study aimed to evaluate patients aged 65 years and older undergoing general anesthesia to determine the 90% effective dose (ED90) of dexmedetomidine continuous intraoperative infusion to prevent emergence agitation. MATERIAL AND METHODS We enrolled 44 patients aged 65 years and older undergoing spinal surgery under general anesthesia. Dexmedetomidine administration commenced 30 minutes before surgery completion, with a predetermined infusion dose (μg/kg/h), without a loading dose. The initial dose was 0.2 μg/kg/h, and subsequent step size was ±0.05 μg/kg/h. We tried to find ED90 of dexmedetomidine using the biased-coin design. Vital signs, extubation quality scores, extubation-related complications, and postoperative outcomes were monitored. RESULTS Dexmedetomidine ED₉₀ for smooth emergence in older patients was 0.34 μg/kg/h. Peri-extubation vital signs remained within 20% of baseline values, without requiring pharmacological intervention. No hypoxia, hypoventilation, or post-extubation agitation occurred. In the recovery room, 1 patient briefly exhibited excitement but quickly calmed. Nine patients initially unresponsive in the recovery room fully awoke and were promptly discharged. CONCLUSIONS For older patients who are vulnerable to adverse effects of anesthetics and opioids, dexmedetomidine enables gentle awakening without adverse vital sign changes, respiratory depression, excessive sedation, or emergence agitation (ED₉₀=0.34 μg/kg/h). Further studies should involve a larger patient cohort, considering diverse medical conditions in older individuals.