The effect of repeated maternal voice orientation on postoperative emergence agitation in children following tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy: A randomized controlled trial.

STUDY

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the efficacy of repeated maternal voice orientation in reducing the incidence of emergence agitation (EA) in pediatric patients undergoing elective tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

A tertiary hospital.

PATIENTS: 360 children aged 5-12 years undergoing elective tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.

INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized into three groups: maternal voice orientation group (Group O), maternal voice awakening group (Group A), and a control group (Group C) receiving silent recordings.

MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was the incidence of EA, defined by a Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) score of 12 or higher. Secondary outcomes included the severity of EA (PAED score > 14), postoperative pain (assessed using FLACC and NRS scales), and recovery profiles in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).

MAIN

RESULTS

Maternal voice orientation (Group O) significantly reduced the incidence of EA compared to the control group and Group A, especially notable in the 5-8 year subgroup. Group O showed the lowest PAED scores immediately post-extubation and at 10 min.

CONCLUSIONS

Repeated maternal voice orientation effectively reduces the incidence and severity of EA among pediatric patients, supporting its inclusion in pediatric anesthesia recovery protocols to improve postoperative outcomes.