[Parental presence during induction of anesthesia in children: pros and cons]

There is a high level of evidence that parental presence during induction of anesthesia in children does not lead to a reduction of fear and better cooperation of the child. However, pediatric anesthetists often encounter the request of parents to be present during the induction of anesthesia which is current practice in many countries. This article explains the grounds and the premises for this practice and describes those factors which might be important to support parental presence during induction of anesthesia in children. Some practical advice and tips on how parental presence in the clinic can be practically implemented are given at the end of the article.