Anxiety and Salivary Cortisol Levels in Children Undergoing Esophago-Gastro-Duodenoscopy Under Sedation

Objectives: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) can cause fear and anxiety in children. Cortisol, which is the most important glucocorticoid hormone in humans, can increase under physiological stress. The purpose of this study was to measure the salivary cortisol level (SCL) and anxiety level in patients undergoing EGD and evaluate their effects on the procedure. Methods: Children undergoing EGD under sedoanalgesia with propofol for various reasons were included. Their basal SCLs were compared with those of healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Moreover, SCL of the patient group at 30 minutes before EGD and 2 hours after the procedure were measured. Their anxiety scores were calculated using the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale before EGD. Duration of endoscopy, sedation, and recovery and total propofol doses were recorded. Results: Demographic properties of the patient group (n = 119; 10.9 ± 3.2 years; 43.7% boys) and control group (n = 85; 11.8 ± 2.8 years; 45.1% boys) were not significantly different. Basal SCLs of both groups were similar (16.9 ± 0.7 vs 19.7 ± 1.8 ng/mL, P = 0.16). SCL before EGD in the patient group was significantly higher than basal and post-EGD values (P 

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