Should an anxious parent be allowed to be present for the induction of anesthesia in her child?

Abstract

Two attending pediatric anesthesiologists are colleagues in a busy pediatric operating room. Although a departmental policy exists that permits parental presence during induction of anesthesia (PPIA) in a child, they have very differing views on the effectiveness of this intervention for decreasing child anxiety and improving cooperation during induction. Because of these differences in viewpoint, one anesthesiologist, Dr. John Friendly, frequently allows PPIA, while the other, Dr. Michael Firm, avoids it in almost every case.