Postoperative Delirium in Pediatric Surgery Patients: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Parental Anxiety.

Purpose

This study aims to determine the prevalence and risk factors of postoperative delirium in pediatric surgical patients and its relationship with parental anxiety and the time the parent is taken to the child's care.

Design

This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study.

Methods

This study was conducted with 127 pediatric patients and their parents in Turkey between August 2023 and August 2024. Data were collected using the Parent Information Form, the short form of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for parents, and the Ramsay Sedation Scale and Cornell Pediatric Delirium Rating Scale-Revised for children.

Findings

The prevalence of postoperative delirium in children was 69.3%. Among parents, 79.5% experienced state anxiety and 21.3% experienced trait anxiety. Parents were reunited with their children an average of 13.42 ± 8.73 minutes after surgery, and a significant association was found between the timing of this reunion and the presence of delirium. Children whose parents were reunited later exhibited higher delirium rates.

Conclusions

Postoperative delirium is highly prevalent among pediatric surgical patients and is influenced not only by biological factors but also by psychosocial and familial dynamics. Earlier parent-child reunification was associated with a lower prevalence of postoperative delirium in this study, highlighting the potential relevance of family-centered care in the early postoperative period. Strengthening family-centered nursing care and developing evidence-based interventions targeting early parental involvement are crucial for improving postoperative outcomes in children. APPLICATION TO PRACTICE Surgical nurses should strengthen their systematic observation skills and integrate family-centered care principles into practice to ensure early recognition of postoperative delirium and support holistic recovery in pediatric patients.