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Mask fear in children presenting for anesthesia: aversion, phobia, or both?
H J Przybylo1, S E Tarbell, G W Stevenson
1Department of Anesthesia, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. przybylo@northwestern.edu
Paediatric Anaesthesia
|April 15, 2005
Summary
Children experiencing anesthesia mask fear often find it more distressing than intravenous anesthesia. This fear can stem from mask odor, feel, or be a phobia, potentially linked to other anxieties.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Anesthesiology
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Mask induction is common for pediatric anesthesia.
- Some children develop significant fear of anesthesia facemasks.
- The origins and intensity of this mask fear are poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore children's and parents' experiences with anesthesia mask fear.
- To compare the distress associated with mask induction versus intravenous induction in fearful children.
Main Methods:
- Studied eight children with pre-existing mask fear.
- Utilized a researcher-developed Anesthesia Mask Fear questionnaire.
- Children and their parents completed the questionnaire.
Main Results:
- Six children and parents completed the study.
- Mask fear presented between 1.4 and 14 years, after 1-16 exposures.
- Fear causes extreme distress, rated higher than venous cannulation discomfort.
Conclusions:
- Anesthesia mask fear can arise from odor aversion, tactile sensitivity, or phobia.
- Children with mask phobia may have co-occurring anxiety disorders.
- Careful anesthesia induction planning is crucial for children with multiple procedures.