Perioperative EEG-Monitoring and Emergence Delirium in Children

Perioperative EEG-Monitoring and Emergence Delirium in Children: a Prospective Observational Study

Emergence delirium is a significant problem, particularly in children. However the incidence, preventative strategies, and management of emergence delirium remain unclear. Multichannel electroencephalogram is a recognized tool for identifying neurophysiologic states during anesthesia, sleep, and arousal. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the mechanisms and predictors of emergence delirium in children under 16 years scheduled for elective surgery using electroencephalogram. The "Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium Scores (PAED Score)" (Sikich et al. 2004) is used to screen for the occurrence of emergence delirium in the post anesthesia care unit.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. male or female children aged under 16 years
2. planned elective surgery
3. informed consent by parents or legal guardians

Exclusion Criteria:

1. history of neurological or psychiatric disease
2. delayed development
3. inability of the parents or legal guardians to speak or read Chinese
4. participation in another prospective interventional clinical study during this study