Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatric anaesthesia · May 2008
Clinical TrialEffects of blood sample volume on hematocrit in critically ill children and neonates.
There are no studies correlating the volume of blood taken from children and hematocrit (Hct) stability, relating those changes to duration of stay, severity of illness or weight. Earlier studies in neonates suggest that repeated sampling results in a drop in Hct. ⋯ We have quantitated the change in Hct and size of blood volume taken for routine laboratory studies. We suggest that children can tolerate 0.25 ml.kg(-1).day(-1) blood sampling without a fall in Hct and sampling can be tailored to the individual child according to the admission Hct.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · May 2008
Clinical TrialThe effect of a preoperative education programme on perioperative anxiety in children: an observational study.
The distress of children at the induction of anesthesia (DAI) is unpleasant for all involved and potentially harmful. Many strategies such as premedication or parental presence at induction have been described to minimize it. A preoperative education programme [the 'Saturday Morning Club' or (SMC)] has been in existence in our institution for a number of years and an observational study of children undergoing day case surgery was undertaken to assess the influence of attendance at the SMC on DAI. ⋯ Parental anxiety at the same locations was self reported using a visual analogue scale. Attendance at the SMC had a favorable effect on patient anxiety levels in all three locations but only reached statistical significance in the waiting room (P = 0.007, Mann-Whitney U-test). At present there is little evidence to support the use of preoperative education programmes in the UK and further studies are required to determine their benefit.