SAGE Open Nurs. 2025 Nov 11;11:23779608251389303. doi: 10.1177/23779608251389303. eCollection 2025 Jan-Dec.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Post-anesthetic pediatric emergence delirium results in acute confusion and hallucinations during recovery from anesthesia. Early recognition and intervention by peri-operative nurses is crucial, particularly in rural areas where nurses are required to manage a diverse array of medical scenarios. The aim of this review is to enhance awareness among peri-operative nurses of the importance of recognizing and managing post-anesthetic pediatric emergence delirium.
METHODS: A narrative review finalized in May 2025 identified literature reporting peri-operative nurses’ experiences recognizing and managing post-anesthetic pediatric emergence delirium. This review utilized the databases PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus, hand searching and reference list checking to identify relevant articles.
RESULTS: Five core themes specific to post-anesthetic pediatric emergence delirium were distilled: identification, risk factors; diagnostic challenges; post-anesthetic screening tools; and nursing interventions. Commonly used anesthetic agents increase the risk of post-anesthetic pediatric delirium for children undergoing surgery. Implementation of validated screening tools to detect symptoms and initiate interventions is recommended. Nurses have a crucial role in the post-operative monitoring of children, identifying early signs of post-anesthetic pediatric emergence delirium and taking timely action to mitigate its impact to ensure optimal health outcomes. Developing, implementing, and evaluating robust educational strategies to develop nurses’ competency to recognize and respond effectively to post-anesthetic pediatric emergence delirium are recommended.
CONCLUSION: While post-anesthetic pediatric emergence delirium is not well understood, it is essential that peri-operative nurses are familiar with this phenomenon and are able to recognize and initiate appropriate interventions. This is particularly important in rural health care environments given the generalist nursing staff profile.
PMID:41235405 | PMC:PMC12605891 | DOI:10.1177/23779608251389303
