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[Cardiac rhythm in children with emotional stress]

Pediatriia
|January 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Hospitalization causes negative emotions in children, altering cardiac rhythm regulation and increasing sympathetic nervous system activity. Stress response mechanisms intensify with age, showing varied sensitivity to emotional stressors.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Cardiology
  • Pediatric Psychology

Background:

  • Children undergoing surgery for inguinal or umbilical hernia experience stress.
  • Hospitalization and surgical procedures can induce negative emotions and physiological stress in pediatric patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of hospitalization-induced negative emotions on cardiac rhythm regulation in children.
  • To assess changes in autonomic nervous system balance during surgical hospitalization.
  • To explore age-related differences in stress response to emotiogenic factors in children.

Main Methods:

  • Cardiointervalography (CIG) was used to record heart rate variability.
  • Measurements were taken on day 1, the day of surgery, and before discharge.
  • 97 children undergoing surgery for inguinal or umbilical hernia were studied.

Main Results:

  • Negative emotions during hospitalization significantly altered cardiac rhythm regulation.
  • Vegetative balance was disrupted, with increased sympathetic nervous system influence.
  • The tension of regulatory mechanisms in stressogenic situations increased with the child's age.
  • Children exhibited age-associated differences in sensitivity to emotional stressors.

Conclusions:

  • Hospital-induced stress and negative emotions in children disrupt autonomic balance and cardiac regulation.
  • The pediatric surgical environment poses significant emotional challenges for children.
  • Age is a critical factor influencing the physiological response to emotional stress in pediatric patients.

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