Evaluating perioperative stresses in children by noninvasive modalities using salivary cortisol and autonomic reactivity.

Purpose: Salivary cortisol (SalC) and low to high pulse ratio (LHR) were used for evaluating perioperative stresses in children. Methods: Children aged 6 months-16 years having elective general (thoracic/abdominal) or minor (open/minimally invasive: MI) procedures underwent pulse monitoring during AM (08:00–12:00) and PM (17:00–21:00) saliva collections from the day before surgery (S-1) to 3 days after surgery (S + 3). SalC/LHR were correlated with age, sex, caregiver attendance, operative time, and surgical site/approach using mixed model analysis and face/numeric pain rating scales (FRS/NRS). Results: Mean ages (years): minor-open (n = 31) 4.7 ± 2.0, thoracic-open (n = 2) 8.7 ± 4.9, thoracic-MI (n = 6) 9.6 ± 6.1, abdominal-open (n = 14) 4.3 ± 4.1, and abdominal-MI (n = 32) 8.0 ± 5.0. Postoperative SalC increased rapidly and decreased to preoperative levels by S + 3 (p < 0.001). LHR increased slightly without decreasing (p = 0.038). SalC correlated positively with operative time (p = 0.036) and open surgery (p = 0.0057), and negatively with age (p < 0.0001) and caregiver attendance (p < 0.001). SalC correlated positively with FRS (n = 51) at S + 2(PM) (p = 0.023), S + 3(AM) (p < 0.001), S + 3(PM) (p = 0.012) and NRS (n = 34) at S + 1(AM) (p = 0.031), S + 3(AM) (p < 0.044). LHR positively correlated with age (p = 0.0072), female sex (p = 0.0047), and caregiver attendance (p = 0.0026). Postoperative SalC after robotic-assisted MI was significantly lower than after open surgery at S + 2(AM) (p = 0.020). Conclusions: SalC correlated with pain. Caregiver attendance effectively alleviated stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]