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Pediatric hypnosis: pre-, peri-, and post-anesthesia

Leora Kuttner1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital & University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. kuttner@sfu.ca

Paediatric Anaesthesia
|May 19, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric hypnosis effectively reduces anxiety and pain for children undergoing anesthesia. This child-centered approach offers long-term benefits, improving recovery and comfort during and after procedures.

Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Pediatric Psychology

Background:

  • Pediatric hypnosis is a child-centered intervention with immediate and long-term benefits.
  • It can be integrated into presurgical consultations to manage fears and improve recovery.
  • Hypnosis prepares children for anesthesia, enhancing receptivity to beneficial suggestions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the literature on hypnosis in pediatric anesthesia.
  • To highlight the role and relevancy of hypnosis in managing pre-, peri-, and post-anesthesia.
  • To emphasize hypnosis as an adjunctive treatment for pain and anxiety control.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of pediatric hypnosis in anesthesia.
  • Discussion of hypno-anesthesia techniques, such as The Magic Glove.
  • Emphasis on the need for training and supervised practice in hypnosis.

Main Results:

  • Hypnosis minimizes anticipatory anxiety before anesthesia.
  • It serves as an adjunctive treatment to reduce and control pain.
  • Hypnosis aids in extubation, reduces nausea, and eases recovery post-anesthesia.

Conclusions:

  • Hypnosis significantly reduces anxiety and pain in pediatric patients.
  • Patients receiving hypnosis experience shorter hospital stays and less long-term discomfort.
  • There is a strong rationale for incorporating hypnosis as an adjunctive treatment for pediatric anesthesia.
Abstract

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