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Got preoperative anxiety in children? There's an app for that
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LISTEN: A pediatric anesthesiologist just launched an app that helps reduce anxiety ahead of surgery for children, their parents and clinicians. GPB’s Ellen Eldridge has more.
A pediatric anesthesiologist just launched an app that helps reduce anxiety ahead of surgery for children, their parents and clinicians.
"The app opens with a playful audio sequence — a rustling 'tornado of to-do lists,' followed by the logo pulsing as the sound resolves and my young son’s voice saying 'PreOp,'" said app designer Dr. Lauren Welsh.
The pediatric anesthesiologist and mother of two young children ran the pediatric preoperative preparation clinic at Children’s Hospital of Georgia for about seven years before she became the founder of Georgia-registered startup PreOpApp™ Kids.
The patent-pending digital health platform helps children and families prepare for surgery in a way that is calm, developmentally appropriate, and accessible, Welsh said.
Gentle reminders for parents help make the experience less stressful, and stories introduce kids to what's going to happen that day in a familiar and fun way so that their fears are alleviated, she said.
The interactive, game-based experiences engage a child’s breathing and attention, helping support calm and regulation during preparation and induction.
These physiology-responsive elements are a key reason the technology is patent-pending, Welsh said.
"They allow the experience to meet children where they are — without adding medication or hardware to a small child’s space," Welsh said. "Longer term, the platform also creates bigger opportunities to improve communication between families and care teams."
High anxiety before surgery is associated with more difficult postoperative recovery, including increased pain medication needs, longer or more challenging recoveries, and postoperative maladaptive behavioral changes that families carry home, Welsh said.
"Reducing anxiety isn’t just about being nice — it directly affects recovery and family experience," she said.
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