Animation-Based Caregiver-Patient Interaction Model for Postoperative Pain Management in Preschool Children with Congenital Heart Disease

This study aimed to evaluate an animation-based caregiver-patient interaction model for postoperative pain and anxiety management in preschool children with congenital heart disease (CHD). This randomized controlled trial included 70 preschoolers undergoing CHD surgery under general anesthesia, who were enrolled in the Cardiac Critical Care Unit at Beijing Children's Hospital (June-October 2024). Participants were stratified into intervention (n=35) and control (n=35) groups. The control group received standard postoperative care, while the intervention group additionally received a structured animation-based program involving preoperative personalized animation selection, post-extubation viewing (≤30 min/session, 3-6 times/day) with nurse-guided interaction, and parental involvement. Pain (WongBaker FACES scale) and anxiety (mYPAS) were assessed at 1 h/6 h postextubation, 24 h/48 h postsurgery, during OR transport, and 24 h postsurgery. Pain was assessed at four time points: 1 h/6 h post-extubation and 24 h/48 h post-surgery. At 1 h post-extubation, there was no significant difference in pain scores between the intervention and control groups (median 9 vs 8, p = 0.462). Pain scores were significantly lower in the intervention group than in controls at 6 h post-extubation (median 6 vs 9), 24 h post-operative (3 vs 6), and 48 h post-operative (2 vs 4); all p < 0.001. Anxiety scores (m-YPAS) were also significantly lower in the intervention group, both on transport to the OR (median 76 vs 80) and at 24 h after surgery (60 vs 80), p < 0.001. Friedman tests demonstrated significant within-group changes over time in anxiety levels (intervention p < 0.001), confirming that the intervention group experienced substantially reduced anxiety at these two key perioperative time points. The interactive animation model significantly reduces postoperative pain and perioperative anxiety in preschool patients with CHD, offering a safe non-pharmacological adjuvant for pain management.