The Effect of Binaural Sound on the Occurrence of Emergence Delirium in Children Undergoing Strabismus Surgery: A...

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Neuroscience
• Pediatric Surgery

Background:

• Binaural beats are known to induce brainwave entrainment and have shown potential in reducing anxiety and sedative use.
• Emergence delirium (ED) is a common complication in children after general anesthesia, particularly after strabismus surgery.
• This study investigated the efficacy of binaural beats in mitigating ED in pediatric patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of binaural beats on the incidence of emergence delirium (ED) in children undergoing strabismus surgery.
• To assess secondary outcomes including ED severity scores and postanesthesia care unit (PACU) stay duration.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 73 pediatric patients aged 2-7 years.
• Patients received either binaural beats or noise-canceled silence during general anesthesia.
• ED was assessed using the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) and Watcha scores.

Main Results:

• The incidence of ED did not significantly differ between the binaural beats group and the control group (38.89% vs. 54.05%).
• However, the binaural beats group exhibited significantly lower PAED scores upon arrival, at 20 minutes, and the highest score during PACU stay.
• No significant differences were observed in Watcha scores, FLACC scores, electroencephalogram band power, or PACU stay duration.

Conclusions:

• Binaural beat application during general anesthesia did not significantly reduce the incidence of emergence delirium in pediatric patients.
• Exploratory analysis suggests a potential reduction in the maximum PAED score, warranting further investigation.
• The findings indicate that while binaural beats may not prevent ED, they might alleviate its severity.