Effect of parental anxiety levels prior to inguinal surgery in preschool children on the child's preoperative anxiety level and postoperative pain

Background The aim of our study was to investigate whether parental anxiety levels prior to inguinal surgery in preschool children affect a child's preoperative anxiety level and postoperative pain level. Methods This study was conducted prospectively and observationally in patients who underwent groin surgery during early childhood. All children in the study received general anesthesia and a caudal block for postoperative analgesia. The anxiety levels of the parents of the children included in the study were assessed preoperatively via the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I and STAI-II). The children's preoperative anxiety levels were assessed via the Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (m-YPAS), and their postoperative pain levels were assessed via the Functional Pain Assessment Scale for Children (FLACC). Results A total of 84 patients were included in our study. A positive, weak correlation was found between the STAI-I mean score and the child's heart rate at admission, and postoperative 1st and 2nd hour heart rates (r = 0.226, p = 0.042; r = 0.221, p = 0.048; and r = 0.221, p = 0.048, respectively). Additionally, positive correlations were found between the m-YPAS T1 score and heart rate at admission (r = 0.229, p = 0.039), the FLACC score at 15 minutes post-operatively (rho = 0.221, p = 0.048), and the FLACC score at 30 minutes post-operatively (rho = 0.200, p = 0.073). In the group with FLACC > 4 who received rescue analgesia, the mean STAI-I score and m-YPAS T1 median value were significantly greater than those in the group who did not receive analgesia (p = 0.046 and p = 0.026, respectively). Conclusions This study revealed that parents' state anxiety levels during the preschool period are associated with their child's preoperative anxiety and early postoperative pain experience. Trial registration: Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06404879) on January 01, 2025.