Preoperative anxiety level is not associated with postoperative negative behavioral changes in premedicated children.

Background: Anesthesia preinduction anxiety in children can according to some studies lead to long-term anxiety and negative behavioral changes (NBC), while other studies have not found this effect. This secondary analysis from a recent premedication trial comparing clonidine and midazolam aimed to test the relation between preoperative anxiety assessed with modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS) and postoperative NBCs assessed with Post Hospital Behavior Questionnaire (PHBQ), regardless of premedication type.

Methods: This is a planned secondary analysis from a published premedication comparison trial in an outpatient surgery cohort, children aged 2-7 years.

Clonidine Versus Midazolam Premedication and Postoperative Negative Behavioral Changes in Younger Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Postoperative negative behavioral changes (NBCs) are common among children, but risk for this is thought to be reduced with premedication. Midazolam has for many years been a standard premedication for children. More recently, the alpha-2 adrenergic agonist clonidine has also become popular as a preanesthetic sedative.

Blood pressure in Danish children during general anaesthesia: Hypotension in a paediatric population observational (HIPPO) study.

Background: In Denmark, thousands of infants and children require general anaesthesia annually. Hypotension during general anaesthesia might reduce cerebral blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain. Safe lower limits of blood pressure are ill defined.