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Anxiety, operations

Feature: Anxiety before surgery

Who likes being admitted to hospital? Almost everyone gets at least uneasy about having an operation. Anxiety like this is not going to cause complications, but it might slow down recovery after the operation. It can make it hard for people to concentrate and to understand medical information. That means that reducing anxiety does not just help you feel better. It also clears your head and makes it easier to understand what is happening. There is no cure-all for anxiety. But you can look for options that help you personally.

Research summaries

Pre-surgery: How long do children need to fast before an operation?

Some hospitals do not let children have anything to drink for two hours before an operation. Others do not allow them to drink for more than five hours, but such a long fast has not been proven necessary. Children who are allowed to drink water or clear juice up to two hours before an operation feel better and stay calmer than children who have to fast longer. more...