Parent and Physician Preference for Anxiolytic Medication Prior to Laceration Repair in Young Children

Objectives Pediatric laceration repair is a daunting process for parents and physicians. The repair could take place quickly if the child is calm and relaxed.This study aimeds to evaluate parental and physician preference for anxiolytic medication administration prior to laceration repair, with a pre-and post-repair survey on parents' and physicians' initial preference and follow-up perception. Methods Parents or guardians of children aged six months to five years who presented with simple lacerations and their physicians were asked to complete a survey on potential benefits and expectations of anxiolytic use before and after the laceration repair.  Results Fifty parents/guardians completed the survey. Forty-three (86%) expressed their preference for anxiolytic medication use if it had been available, before laceration repair. Parents/guardians perceived reactions to laceration repair before and after the procedure were significant, ranging from "uncontrolled crying" to "continuous crying" (p=.032). The parents/guardians overwhelmingly preferred to take part in the decision-making process during the repair (not significant). Preference for anxiolytic use was high before repair at 54% and increased to 62% after witnessing the procedure (not significant). Physicians who completed the survey supported the use of anxiolytics 84% of the time. Forty (80%) physicians preferred the intranasal route, while parents/guardians preferred the oral route (58%). Conclusions Procedural sedation is critical for anxiety control and to minimize the difficulties related to treatment. In our study, parents and physicians supported the administration of an anxiolytic agent to help alleviate anxiety and achieve optimal outcomes.