Effects of Parental Anxiety on the Postoperative Pain and Complications of Children Undergoing Adenotonsillectomy
Laryngoscope. 2025 May 5. doi: 10.1002/lary.32217. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between parental anxiety and postoperative pain and complications in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy.
METHODS: The level of pain of the child and the pain perceived by the parent were questioned using the Wong-Baker FACESR pain grading scale at postoperative 6 hour, 24 hour, 1 week, and 2 weeks. For evaluation of the anxiety status of the parents, the following questionnaires were used: the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3) and the parent version of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS-P). Using the State Anxiety scores, the parents were classified into three groups. The patients were followed up in respect to complications (fever, nausea-vomiting, re-hospitalization, re-operation).
RESULTS: Evaluations were made of 145 patients and their parents. Of the total parents, mild anxiety was determined in 47 (32.4%) (Group 1), moderate anxiety in 70 (48.2%) (Group 2), and severe anxiety in 28 (19.3%) (Group 3). Pearson correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between parental anxiety and the pain scores of both the parents and the children. Complications developed in 1 (2.1%) patient in Group 1, in 22 (31.4%) in Group 2, and in 16 (57.1%) in Group 3 (p = 0.0001).
CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that postoperative pain and complications were seen at a higher rate in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy whose parents had a high level of anxiety. Preoperative psychosocial support given to parents could reduce pain and complications to lower levels.
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