Special Health Care Needs
Spencer Wade, DDS, MS
Dentist Anesthesiologist
New York University, New York, NY
New York University
New York, New York, United States
Caroline M. Sawicki, DDS, PhD
New York University College of Dentistry
Malvin Janal, PhD
New York University College of Dentistry
Tiffany Shahparsat, BS
New York University College of Dentistry
Hussein Daragma, BS
New York University College of Dentistry
Spencer Wade, DDS, MS
Dentist Anesthesiologist
New York University, New York, NY
New York University
New York, New York, United States
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a multisensory room (MSR), as compared to a standard preoperative waiting room, on pre- and post-operative outcomes in pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) undergoing general anesthesia (GA) for dental treatment.
Methods: 21 children diagnosed with ASD, aged 6-17 years, who underwent GA for dental treatment participated in this study. Subjects were randomly assigned to either the control group (standard preoperative waiting room) or intervention group (MSR) for 20 minutes prior to induction. Pre- and post-intervention behavioral and physiological anxiety were assessed by the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale and a pulse oximeter, respectively. After completion of dental surgery, emergence delirium was evaluated by the Watcha Scale. Postoperative pain and behavioral recovery were measured using the Facial Pain Scale-Revised and Post Hospitalization Behavior Questionnaire for Ambulatory Surgery, respectively, at 6 hours, 24 hours, 1 week, and 1 month after surgery.
Results: Children assigned to the MSR exhibited a significant decrease in behavioral anxiety after the intervention while the control group response was flat (mixed model ANOVA, interaction P< .001). Within the control group, males tended to show more behavioral anxiety post-intervention than females (t-test, P=.17). The groups showed similar post-intervention changes in physiological anxiety, levels of emergence delirium, levels of postoperative pain, and levels of adverse behavioral outcomes.
Conclusions: Use of a multisensory room in pediatric patients with ASD prior to GA induction for dental treatment significantly reduced behavioral anxiety.