Observation on application effect of Child Life Specialist in ERAS after laparoscopic appendectomy in children

ZHAO Qing; CHANG Li; TAN Xianqun; JIN Zhu; ZHENG Zebing

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-3806.2025.06.10

Abstract：Objective To observe the application effect of Child Life Specialist in enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)after laparoscopic appendectomy in children.Methods A total of 208 pediatric patients with acute appendicitis who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy in Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University from November 2021 to November 2024 were included in this study.These patients were divided into control group(n=105)and observation group(n=103)according to random number table method.The control group was given traditional routine nursing intervention.The observation group received a special medical pattern of Child Life Specialist on the basis of the traditional routine nursing intervention.The pediatric patients' anxiety scores and their family members' anxiety scores were compared between the two groups by using modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale-Short Form(mYPAS-SF)and State Anxiety Inventory(S-AI)before and after the interventions.The degrees of postoperative pain of the pediatric patients in the two groups were evaluated by using Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale(WBS)and Visual Analogue Scale(VAS).The ERAS-related indicators and satisfaction degrees of the pediatric patients' family members were compared between the two groups.Results The pediatric patients' anxiety scores and their family members' anxiety scores after interventions,and the pain scores at 6 hours,12 hours and 24 hours after operation in the observation group were lower than those in the control group,with statistically significant differences between the two groups(P＜0.05).After the operation,the time to first anal exhaust in the observation group was earlier than that in the control group[(16.01±2.33)h vs(19.70±3.76)h],and the time to first food intake in the observation group was earlier than that in the control group[(17.44±2.33)h vs(21.03±3.85)h].The length of hospital stay in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group[(6.18±0.79)d vs(8.47±2.44)d].The satisfaction degree scores of the pediatric patients' family members in the observation group were higher than those in the control group[(98.04±1.26)points vs(93.30±2.46)points].There were significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups(P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of the pediatric patients' postoperative complications between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion The application effect of Child Life Specialist is significantly effective in ERAS for the pediatric patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy.It can effectively reduce the anxiety levels of the pediatric patients and their family members,alleviate the postoperative pain of the pediatric patients,promote the postoperative anal exhaust of the pediatric patients,shorten the time to first food intake and the length of hospital stay of the pediatric patients,and improve the satisfaction degrees of the pediatric patients' family members.