For children who require surgery, it is advisable to have one or both of the parents present. A child who has just been wounded is already distressed by the experience and may need a parent nearby.
Parents who are present during surgery can play an important role in handling the child’s anxiety during this stressful situation; young children are hardly capable of dealing with this type of situation alone. The supportive role of the parents also applies to hospitalisation in a paediatric hospital, where parents are often given the option to stay overnight with the sick child.
Particularly for non-acute procedures, ample time should be set aside to show the child that this will be a new experience that may not be entirely pleasant.
During the operation, the assistant can also play an important role in calming the child by telling a story or showing them a picture book. An older child (aged > 6 years) may express interest in what is happening and may be engaged in this manner.
In summary, we advise having one or both of the parents present during the operation, provided that they are capable of doing so. A parent that expresses obvious anxiety will not have a calming effect on the child. Adequate counselling of the child is very important.
All counselling and support regarding surgery must be tailored to the socio-cultural background and educational level of the parents and child.