Anaesthetic induction in children: the effects of maternal presence on mood and subsequent behaviour.

Forty-nine children, aged from 1 to 9 years, undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia, were studied in two groups. In one group, each child's mother was present during induction of anaesthesia, whereas in the other group no parent was present. Children's moods and cooperation during waiting and induction periods did not differ significantly between the groups, neither was the incidence of technical difficulties with anaesthetic induction different. Induction took longer (P = 0.005) if the mother was present. Mothers, when present, were calm and supportive to their children, with one exception. No mother was critical or interfering. Each child's behaviour was assessed by questionnaire pre-operatively and 4 weeks post-operatively. There was a significant overall improvement in behaviour scores post-operatively. There were no significant differences in direction or magnitude of behaviour changes between the two groups.