A magic way to relax young patients

It is not quite a trip to Hogwarts, but specialists at Epworth HealthCare are using 'magic' to help young children get through surgery.

The new approach, where anaesthetists use simple tricks to help kids relax before operations – similar to how magicians divert their audience's attention – has been hailed as a successful anaesthesia tool in a new medical reference book.

The effectiveness of the 'magical distraction' method on young patients has been highlighted in the latest edition of Australasian Anaesthesia. The magazine is a peer-reviewed reference for the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists' (ANZCA) 8,200 anaesthetists, 580 specialist pain medicine physicians, and nearly 2,000 trainees. 

The report found that children who go under anaesthetic in a happier state have a better post-surgery experience.

ANZCA fellow Dr Colleen Chew has been applying the theory in her role at Melbourne's Epworth Richmond hospital.

While the anaesthetist does not bring a wand to the operating theatre, as a mother of three boys she has a range of tricks up her sleeve to help children relax before surgery.

"This is what I do every single day, but for kids and their parents it's a huge deal," Dr Chew said.

"Anything I can do to alleviate anxiety and stress is good."

Dr Chew gives young patients stickers so they can decorate their anaesthetic mask.

She also gets the children to choose a fragrant balm like chocolate magic, optimistic cherry, or lemon pie to coat the inside of the mask, so they smell the relaxing scent as they go to sleep.

"After we decorate their mask, I get the child to sleep on their parent's lap, so they are being cuddled and feel safe, and they aren't in a bed by themselves," Dr Chew said.

"I use guided imagery, so I might tell the child we are going into space and the mask is their astronaut mask, or that we are going snorkelling and it's their face mask.

"As they go to sleep, I get their mum to 'snorkel ahead' and explain that we are going to find some fish, turtles, or dolphins."

Parents can also play a key role in settling children.

"The only person the child knows in the operating theatre is their parent, so parents can play an important part in alleviating the worry a child may be feeling," Dr Chew said.

Read more: 'Magical connection' as mum assists birth

Read more: Surgery 'drive-in' keeps kids calm

Next News And Innovation:
13/11/2023 Double celebration for IVF unit

Previous News And Innovation:
31/10/2023 App to transform physio assessment