Flavored Anesthetic Masks for Inhalational Induction in Children

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Pediatric Anesthesia
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Inhalational induction is common in pediatric anesthesia.
• Managing pre-operative anxiety and ensuring mask compliance are crucial for successful induction.
• Masking the odor of anesthetic agents may potentially reduce anxiety and improve acceptance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the clinical efficacy of fruit-flavored anesthetic masks in reducing anxiety and improving compliance during inhalational induction in children.
• To compare the cost-effectiveness of DIY flavored masks versus commercially available pre-scented masks.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 60 children aged 4-12 years.
• Children received either flavored or unflavored anesthetic masks.
• Anxiety was measured using the modified Yale Pre-operative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS), and mask acceptance was assessed using the Induction Compliance Checklist (ICC).

Main Results:

• No significant difference in anxiety levels or mask compliance was observed between the flavored and non-flavored mask groups.
• Baseline anxiety levels were comparable between groups.
• DIY flavored masks cost INR 56.45 per mask, significantly less than commercial pre-scented masks at INR 660 per mask.

Conclusions:

• The study suggests a placebo effect may have influenced the control group's anxiety levels, leading to similar outcomes between groups.
• Using flavored anesthetic masks is a cost-effective alternative to commercially available pre-scented masks.
• While not improving anxiety or compliance, flavored masks offer a budget-friendly option.