8 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y
F
or children, wearing the anesthesia
mask can be one of the most traumatiz-
ing and anxiety-inducing components
of having surgery. Here's an idea. Take the
end of the anesthesia mask and dip the
lip that connects to the circuit into a
medicine cup full of bubbles. You turn
a potentially threatening piece of
equipment into something that is fun
and familiar to children: a bubble
blower. Chances are, kids who
initially refused to wear or
even hold the mask will
soften their stance after
they've blown bubbles
out of its hole.
Becca Mitsos,
CCLS
Ann & Robert H.
Lurie Children's
Hospital
of Chicago (Ill.)
rmitsos@
luriechildrens.org
PEDIATRICS
Mask Bubble Blower Reduces Anxiety for Kids
• MEDICAL PLAY Becca
Mitsos, CCLS, blows a bub-
ble out of an anesthesia
mask's connector hole,
demonstrating a
fun way to
get children
comfortable
with wearing
the mask.
Ideas Work
That