Post-operative symptoms at home in children following day case surgery.
BACKGROUND
This prospective questionnaire-based study examined the post-operative symptoms encountered by children who had day case surgery at a dedicated day case surgery unit. The study evaluated the postoperative symptoms at home. The parents also evaluated the instructions given in the hospital for care at home.


METHODS
All children aged 1 day - 14 years operated over a one year period were prospectively followed up following elective day case surgery. The incidence and duration of symptoms were evaluated using a structured questionnaire completed by the parents. Also, the instructions given in hospital for care at home were evaluated by the parents using another questionnaire.


RESULTS
A total of 100 children were operated during the period. Pain (72%), emetic symptoms (16%) and difficulty with walking (7%) were the commonest symptoms occurring on the way home. There were no unplanned admissions. Two thirds of the parents did not know enough of the treatment of the wound and of the overall recovery of the child.


CONCLUSIONS
Post operative symptoms following elective day case surgery are amenable to treatment and prevention with a wider use of available drugs for peri-operative analgesia.
Faponle
Aramide Folayemi
AF
Dept. Anaesthesia, Obafemi Awolowo Univ. Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. folafaps@yahoo.com
Usang
Usang Edet
UE
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000758:Anesthesia; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires