Objective To compare the anaesthetic and cardiopulmonary effects of alfaxalone in comparison to propofol when used for total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) during ovariohysterectomy in dogs. Animals Fourteen healthy female crossbred dogs between 6 months and 5 years, with body weight between 16 - 42 kg. Methods All dogs were premedicated with acepromazine 0.01 mg/kg and morphine 0.4 mg/kg subcutaneously. Anaesthesia was induced and maintained with either Group 1- propofol (6 mg/kg followed by 0.3-0.5 mg/kg/min intravenously) or Group 2 alfaxalone (2 mg/kg followed 0.10-0.12 mg/kg/min intravenously). Quality of induction and recovery were determined. Dogs were spontaneously breathing 100 % oxygen. Respiratory and cardiovascular parameters were measured: Respiratory rate (RR), end tidal CO2 (ETCO2), tidal volume (TV). Heart rate (HR), systolic (SAP), diastolic (DAP), and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). Arterial blood samples were collected during and after the surgery to determinate arterial PH, PaCO2, PaO2. Results Smooth and rapid induction followed by satisfactory maintenance and good recovery quality was observed with both anaesthetic agents. Cardiopulmonary effects were similar for both groups with notable respiratory depression and fair hemodynamic parameters. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance The administration of alfaxalone used as TIVA in premedicated dogs produced satisfactory anaesthesia with the same quality as that produced by propofol during ovariohysterectomy. Hypoventilation was the most prominent adverse effect from both anaesthetic agents suggesting a need for ventilatory support during prolonged TIVA periods with either anaesthetic agent. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Companion Animal Clinical Studies / unrestricted

À ce jour, cette thèse n’a pas été déposée auprès de l’université de soutenance.La bibliothèque universitaire est donc dans l’impossibilité d’en assurer le traitement et la diffusion. / To date, this thesis has not been deposited.The university library is therefore unable to process, preserve or disseminate it.

This study investigates the prevalence of peri-operative anxiety and the effective management of intra-operative anxiety during awake surgery. Plastic and vascular surgical patients were selected for the study as many procedures performed within these specialities are performed under local or regional anaesthesia. The study consists of two distinct stages. The first stage was a postal survey of patients (n=213) who had undergone awake plastic, renal access or carotid surgery up to two weeks previously, in order to determine retrospectively the prevalence of peri-operative anxiety. The second stage of the study was a randomised controlled trial of interventions for the effective management of intra-operative anxiety in patients (n=128) having undergone the same surgical procedures described in stage one. The interventions tested in stage two were handholding and an anxiety management package involving a relaxation technique and a procedural information leaflet, against a 'usual care' control. The findings from stage one of the study suggest that peri-operative anxiety prevalence is low, although unacceptable levels of anxiety are seen to elevate during the intra-operative phase. The RCT in stage two demonstrated that intra-operative anxiety was no more effectively managed by the interventions tested than by usual care alone. The validity and reliability of retrospective anxiety measurement was investigated by comparing anxiety scores from stage one with contemporaneous and post-hoc anxiety scores from stage two and found to be an accurate measure of anxiety experienced at the time of the event.

O desmame é a transição da ventilação mecânica para a espontânea ao final da assistência ventilatória artificial. Não existem estudos específicos sobre esta fase de transição na espécie equina porém, os elevados valores na tensão de dióxido de carbono arterial (PaCO2) ao desmame e os baixos valores na tensão de oxigênio arterial (PaO2) na recuperação pós-anestésica (RPA) refletem a necessidade do estudo de modalidades mais seguras de desmame. Sendo assim, este estudo objetivou comparar dois diferentes protocolos de desmame da ventilação mecânica em equinos hígidos. Para tanto, foram utilizados 20 equinos, de 5±2 anos de idade e pesando 456±90 kg, submetidos a procedimento cirúrgico em decúbito dorsal. Os animais foram divididos aleatoriamente em 2 grupos de acordo com o protocolo de desmame, sendo considerado Grupo Controle os animais que foram submetidos a diminuição gradual da frequência respiratória (FR) isoladamente e Grupo PSV os animais que foram submetidos à redução da FR associada à administração de pressão de suporte ventilatório (PSV). Avaliou-se os parâmetros cardiovasculares, de ventilação, de oxigenação e metabólicos durante o desmame, a desconexão da ventilação mecânica e a RPA. Ao final do desmame, o Vexp (12,49±1,93 L) e o VT (28,10±6,17 mL/kg) do Grupo PSV foram superiores aos do Grupo Controle (Vexp de 7,66±2,66 L e VT de 16,88±4,30 mL/kg). Durante o desmame, a PaCO2 aumentou 29% (de 44±3 mmHg para 57±6 mmHg) e houve diminuição de 28% da relação PaO2/FiO2 (de 391±68 mmHg para 280±28) e de 9% da SaO2 (de 100±1% para 91±3%) apenas no Grupo Controle. Na RPA houve hipoxemia transitória no Grupo Controle após 15 (PaO2 de 48±5 mmHg) e 35 minutos (PaO2 de 57±7 mmHg) da desconexão do ventilador, e no Grupo PSV obteve-ve relação PaO2/FiO2 e SaO2 superior à do Grupo Controle durante a RPA. Concluiu-se que o uso da PSV no desmame foi capaz de manter os parâmetros ventilatórios e de oxigenação adequados durante todos os momentos de avaliação, e o desmame por redução gradativa da FR não impediu a ocorrência de hipercapnia transitória ao final do desmame e hipoxemia transitória na RPA. Considerando-se a higidez dos animais, estas alterações foram revertidas sem intervenção clínica, mas devem ser consideradas em animais debilitados. / Weaning from mechanical ventilation is the transition from mechanical to spontaneous ventilation at the end of the ventilatory support. There are no specific studies about this transition phase in horses. However, high tension of carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2) at weaning and low values of arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) during recovery from anaesthesia suggest the need to study safer modalities of weaning. The scope of this study was to compare two weaning protocols from mechanical ventilation in healthy horses. With this purpose we studied 20 horses with a mean age of 5±2 years and a mean weight of 456±90 kg, scheduled to surgery in dorsal recumbency. Animals were randomly assigned one of the 2 weaning protocols, considering from Control Group those animals submitted to gradual decrease in respiratory rate (RR) set alone and from PSV Group those animals submitted to gradual decrease in RR associated with pressure support ventilation (PSV) administration. We evaluated cardiovascular, ventilatory, oxygenation and metabolic parameters during weaning, ventilator disconnection and recovery from anaesthesia. At the end of weaning, Vexp (12,49±1,93 L) and VT (28,10±6,17 mL/kg) of PSV Group were superior to the Control Group (Vexp of 7.66±2.66 L and VT of 16.88±4.30 mL/kg). During weaning PaCO2 increased by 29% (44±3 mmHg to 57±6 mmHg) and there was increasing PaO2/FiO2 ratio by 28% (391±68 mmHg to 280±28) and SaO2 by 9% (100±1% to 91±3%) only in Control Group. In the recovery phase there was transient hypoxemia in Control Group after 15 (PaO2 of 48±5 mmHg) and 35 minutes (PaO2 of 57±7 mmHg) of ventilator disconnection, and PaO2/FiO2 ratio and SaO2 in PSV Group were superior to the Control Group in the recovery phase. We conclude that the use of PSV in the weaning from mechanical ventilation phase was capable to remain ventilatory and oxygenation parameters appropriate in all evaluations, and weaning only by gradual decrease of RR did not prevent the occurrence of transient hypercapnia at the end of weaning and transient hypoxemia in the recovery from anaesthesia. Considering the healthiness of the animals, these changes were reversed without clinical intervention, but should be considered important recovery events in critical horses.

O desmame é a transição da ventilação mecânica para a espontânea ao final da assistência ventilatória artificial. Não existem estudos específicos sobre esta fase de transição na espécie equina porém, os elevados valores na tensão de dióxido de carbono arterial (PaCO2) ao desmame e os baixos valores na tensão de oxigênio arterial (PaO2) na recuperação pós-anestésica (RPA) refletem a necessidade do estudo de modalidades mais seguras de desmame. Sendo assim, este estudo objetivou comparar dois diferentes protocolos de desmame da ventilação mecânica em equinos hígidos. Para tanto, foram utilizados 20 equinos, de 5±2 anos de idade e pesando 456±90 kg, submetidos a procedimento cirúrgico em decúbito dorsal. Os animais foram divididos aleatoriamente em 2 grupos de acordo com o protocolo de desmame, sendo considerado Grupo Controle os animais que foram submetidos a diminuição gradual da frequência respiratória (FR) isoladamente e Grupo PSV os animais que foram submetidos à redução da FR associada à administração de pressão de suporte ventilatório (PSV). Avaliou-se os parâmetros cardiovasculares, de ventilação, de oxigenação e metabólicos durante o desmame, a desconexão da ventilação mecânica e a RPA. Ao final do desmame, o Vexp (12,49±1,93 L) e o VT (28,10±6,17 mL/kg) do Grupo PSV foram superiores aos do Grupo Controle (Vexp de 7,66±2,66 L e VT de 16,88±4,30 mL/kg). Durante o desmame, a PaCO2 aumentou 29% (de 44±3 mmHg para 57±6 mmHg) e houve diminuição de 28% da relação PaO2/FiO2 (de 391±68 mmHg para 280±28) e de 9% da SaO2 (de 100±1% para 91±3%) apenas no Grupo Controle. Na RPA houve hipoxemia transitória no Grupo Controle após 15 (PaO2 de 48±5 mmHg) e 35 minutos (PaO2 de 57±7 mmHg) da desconexão do ventilador, e no Grupo PSV obteve-ve relação PaO2/FiO2 e SaO2 superior à do Grupo Controle durante a RPA. Concluiu-se que o uso da PSV no desmame foi capaz de manter os parâmetros ventilatórios e de oxigenação adequados durante todos os momentos de avaliação, e o desmame por redução gradativa da FR não impediu a ocorrência de hipercapnia transitória ao final do desmame e hipoxemia transitória na RPA. Considerando-se a higidez dos animais, estas alterações foram revertidas sem intervenção clínica, mas devem ser consideradas em animais debilitados. / Weaning from mechanical ventilation is the transition from mechanical to spontaneous ventilation at the end of the ventilatory support. There are no specific studies about this transition phase in horses. However, high tension of carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2) at weaning and low values of arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) during recovery from anaesthesia suggest the need to study safer modalities of weaning. The scope of this study was to compare two weaning protocols from mechanical ventilation in healthy horses. With this purpose we studied 20 horses with a mean age of 5±2 years and a mean weight of 456±90 kg, scheduled to surgery in dorsal recumbency. Animals were randomly assigned one of the 2 weaning protocols, considering from Control Group those animals submitted to gradual decrease in respiratory rate (RR) set alone and from PSV Group those animals submitted to gradual decrease in RR associated with pressure support ventilation (PSV) administration. We evaluated cardiovascular, ventilatory, oxygenation and metabolic parameters during weaning, ventilator disconnection and recovery from anaesthesia. At the end of weaning, Vexp (12,49±1,93 L) and VT (28,10±6,17 mL/kg) of PSV Group were superior to the Control Group (Vexp of 7.66±2.66 L and VT of 16.88±4.30 mL/kg). During weaning PaCO2 increased by 29% (44±3 mmHg to 57±6 mmHg) and there was increasing PaO2/FiO2 ratio by 28% (391±68 mmHg to 280±28) and SaO2 by 9% (100±1% to 91±3%) only in Control Group. In the recovery phase there was transient hypoxemia in Control Group after 15 (PaO2 of 48±5 mmHg) and 35 minutes (PaO2 of 57±7 mmHg) of ventilator disconnection, and PaO2/FiO2 ratio and SaO2 in PSV Group were superior to the Control Group in the recovery phase. We conclude that the use of PSV in the weaning from mechanical ventilation phase was capable to remain ventilatory and oxygenation parameters appropriate in all evaluations, and weaning only by gradual decrease of RR did not prevent the occurrence of transient hypercapnia at the end of weaning and transient hypoxemia in the recovery from anaesthesia. Considering the healthiness of the animals, these changes were reversed without clinical intervention, but should be considered important recovery events in critical horses.

Please read the abstract in the dissertation. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Clinical Epidemiology / unrestricted

The role of CEA for stroke prevention in the presence of symptomatic carotid artery stenosis is well established. In order to maximize the benefit of surgery, several perioperative processes of care have been under scrutiny, of which one is the choice of anaesthetic method. The differing effects of GA vs. LA on the cerebral circulation after CEA may be of significance, since changes in the cerebral circulation post-CEA may give rise to cerebral hyperperfusion and intracerebral haemorrhage. This work assessed the effect of GA vs. LA on cerebral haemodynamic control after CEA using transcranial Doppler (TCD) techniques, and correlated these changes with serum markers of cerebral injury. Subjects undergoing CEA had perioperative TCD monitoring of middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (MCAV). Pre- and postoperative (within 48 hours of surgery) testing of cerebral autoregulation [CA] (tilt-testing) and cerebral vasoreactivity to CO2 [CVR] (rebreathing expired air) was conducted. Cerebral haemodynamic parameters and clinical outcome were correlated with changes in jugular venous and peripheral levels of protein S100β and neurone-specific enolase (NSE).The change in CA and CVR was not different between GA (n=16) and LA (n=20). Overall, CA and CVR improved significantly within 48 hours of CEA for patients with preoperative impairment of these parameters, although some patients with normal baseline CA and CVR exhibited postoperative impairment. Increase of MCAV >100% from baseline after restoration of carotid blood flow was observed in patients with impaired CVR, but resolved by the first postoperative day. Transient elevation in jugular venous (but not peripheral) S100β during surgery was seen. Both jugular and peripheral NSE levels dropped during surgery. Neither anaesthetic method nor CA or CVR status had any effect on changes in serum S100β or NSE. Cerebral autoregulatory parameters thus improve rapidly after CEA, but appear unaffected by anaesthetic technique. This supports the concept that cerebral hyperperfusion is dependent on factors in addition to impaired CA or CVR. Changes in serum S100β or NSE do not reflect cerebral haemodynamic changes. However, the variability encountered between patients warrants further investigation. The implications for clinical practice and directions for further research are discussed.

This study investigates the prevalence of peri-operative anxiety and the effective management of intra-operative anxiety during awake surgery. Plastic and vascular surgical patients were selected for the study as many procedures performed within these specialities are performed under local or regional anaesthesia. The study consists of two distinct stages. The first stage was a postal survey of patients (n=213) who had undergone awake plastic, renal access or carotid surgery up to two weeks previously, in order to determine retrospectively the prevalence of peri-operative anxiety. The second stage of the study was a randomised controlled trial of interventions for the effective management of intra-operative anxiety in patients (n=128) having undergone the same surgical procedures described in stage one. The interventions tested in stage two were handholding and an anxiety management package involving a relaxation technique and a procedural information leaflet, against a ¿usual care¿ control. The findings from stage one of the study suggest that peri-operative anxiety prevalence is low, although unacceptable levels of anxiety are seen to elevate during the intra-operative phase. The RCT in stage two demonstrated that intra-operative anxiety was no more effectively managed by the interventions tested than by usual care alone. The validity and reliability of retrospective anxiety measurement was investigated by comparing anxiety scores from stage one with contemporaneous and post-hoc anxiety scores from stage two and found to be an accurate measure of anxiety experienced at the time of the event.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T16:24:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGCA14MA134.pdf: 1248046 bytes, checksum: af3ac6b025f01fe9a2d5a20f8a4685e3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-28 / The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of premedication with detomidine and morphine in sheep kept under inhalation anesthesia with isoflurane or total intravenous anesthesia with propofol, both associated with lumbosacral spinal anesthesia. Fourteen adult, female, sheep, mean weight 27,2±2,4 Kg were used. All animals were pre medicated with 0,3 mg.Kg-1 of morphine IM, and 5 minutes later received 20 mcg.Kg-1 of detomidine IV. Subsequently were assigned into two groups: GISO (n=7), which were induced with 0,5mg.Kg-1 of diazepam associated with 5 mg.Kg-1 of ketamine IV, and maintenance of anesthesia was through isoflurane diluted in 100 % oxygen; the GPRO (n=7), animals were induced with 4 mg.Kg-1 propofol and maintained with continuous infusion of propofol in the initial rate of 0,3 mg.Kg-1.min-1 and subsequently adjusted to maintain adequate depth of anesthesia. Mechanical ventilation was iniciated to maintain normocapnia during the anesthesia. All animals underwent bilateral tibial osteotomy, therefore, received 0,5mg.Kg-1 0,75% ropivacaine associated with 0,1 mg.Kg-1 morphine by the intrathecal route, and diluting to a final volume of 1 mL/7,5 Kg bodyweight with NaCl0,9% solution. The parameters were evaluated at baseline (M0), after instrumentation of the animals while held in right lateral recumbeny; 5 minutes after administration of detomidine (M1); 5 minutes after anesthetic induction (M2); 10 minutes after performing spinal anesthesia and positioning of the animal into dorsal recumbency (M3); immediately after osteotomy of the right hindlimb (M4); 30 minutes after the spinal anesthesia and positioning of the animal into dorsal recumbency (M5); immediately after osteotomy of the left hindlimb (M6); and at the end of surgery/anesthesia (M7). There was a 40% reduction in heart rate in M1 in both groups, remaining on average 23% reduced to M7. Mean arterial pressure rose in 16% in GISO at M2, 12 but decreasing from M3 to M7, like at in the GPRO. The average EtISO was 0,57 V% and average infusion rate of propofol was 0,24 mg.Kg-1.min-1. Spinal block was 100% effective in all animals. We registered a respiratory acidosis in M2, and a posterior metabolic alkalosis in M3 to M7, in both groups. Reduction of potassium levels and sustained hyperglycemia were observed in M2 to M7 in both groups. A 20% decrease ocurred in hematocrit and hemoglobin were observed in both groups from M1. The total time of surgery, anesthesia and extubation were 66±9,8, 92±7,0 and 13,8±1,5 minutes in GISO and 56±2,4, 82,9±4,6 and 5,4±1,5 minutes in GPRO. We conclude that sedation provided with the association of morphine and detomidine promoted adequate sedation depth, quality of induction promoted by propofol or ketamine diazepam was excellent and the protocol of spinal anesthesia was effective in preventing the nociception during surgical stimulation, not requiring rescue analgesia. The maintenance anesthesia with propofol or isoflurane produced similar depth of anesthesia with minimal cardiovascular and hemogasometric alterations, which are well tolerated in healthy animals / O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a eficácia e segurança da pré medicação com detomidia e morfina em ovinos mantidos sob anestesia geral inalatória com isofluorano ou anestesia total intravenosa com propofol, ambas associadas à anestesia subaracnóidea lombo-sacra. Foram utilizados 14 ovinos, fêmeas, adultas, com peso médio 27,2±2,4 Kg. Todos os animais foram pré medicados com 0,3 mg.Kg-1 de morfina pela via IM, e 5 minutos após receberam 20 mcg.Kg-1 de detomidina pela via IV. Posteriormente foram alocados em dois grupos: GISO (n=7), onde foram induzidos com 0,5 mg.Kg-1 de diazepam e 5 mg.Kg-1 de cetamina IV, e manutenção anestésica realizada através de isofluorano diluído em 100% de oxigênio; no GPRO (n=7), os animais foram induzidos com 4 mg.Kg-1 de propofol, e a manutenção foi realizada com infusão contínua de propofol na taxa inicial de 0,3 mg.Kg-1.min-1 sendo posteriormente ajustada de acordo com o plano anestésico. Todos os animais foram mantidos sob ventilação mecânica ajustada para manter normocapnia. Todos os animais foram submetidos à osteotomia bilateral de tíbia, para tanto, receberam 0,5 mg.Kg-1 de ropivacaína 0,75% associado a 0,1 mg.Kg-1 de morfina pela via subaracnóidea, diluindo-se para um volume final de 1 mL/7,5 Kg com solução NaCl 0,9%. Os parâmetros foram avaliados no momento basal (M0), este ocorrido após a instrumentação dos animais, enquanto mantidos em decúbito lateral direito; 5 minutos após a administração da detomidina (M1); 5 minutos após a indução anestésica (M2); 10 minutos após a realização da anestesia subaracnóidea e posicionamento do animal em decúbito dorsal (M3); imediatamente após a realização da osteotomia do membro pélvico direito (perfuração da cortical) (M4); 30 minutos após a realização da anestesia subaracnóidea e posicionamento do animal em decúbito dorsal (M5); imediatamente após a realização da osteotomia do membro pélvico esquerdo (perfuração da cortical) (M6); e ao término da 10 cirurgia/anestesia (M7). Houve redução de 40% nos valores médios de frequência cardíaca em M1 em ambos os grupos, permanecendo em média 23% reduzidos até M7. A pressão arterial média elevou-se 16% em M2 no GISO, mas reduzindo-se de M3 até M7, assim como no GPRO. A EtISO média foi de 0,57V% e a taxa média de infusão do propofol foi de 0,24 mg.Kg-1.min-1. O bloqueio subaracnóideo foi 100% eficaz em todos os animais. Registrou-se acidose respiratória em M2, e posterior alcalose metabólica de M3 à M7, em ambos os grupos. Redução dos valores de potássio e hiperglicemia sustentada ocorreram de M2 a M7, em ambos os grupos. Decréscimo significativo de 20% nos valores de hematócrito e hemoglobina foram observados nos dois grupos a partir de M1. Os tempos totais de cirurgia, anestesia e para extubação foram de 66±9,8, 92±13,8 e 7,0±1,5 minutos no GISO e 56±2,4, 82,9±4,6 e 5,4±1,5 minutos no GPRO. Conclui-se que a sedação promovida pela associação de morfina e detomidina promoveu sedação adequada, a qualidade de indução promovida pelo propofol ou associação de cetamina diazepam foi excelente, o protocolo de anestesia subaracnóidea foi eficaz em prevenir a nocicepção durante o estímulo cirúrgico, não requerendo resgate analgésico trans operatório. A manutenção anestésica com isofluorano ou propofol promoveu plano anestésico similar com mínimos efeitos cardiovasculares ou hemogasométricos, os quais são bem tolerados em animais hígidos

Introduction. The high technology environment such as a radiology and anaesthesia department in a typical health care setting can many times be a frightening environment for children. Children with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), have problems with communication and social interaction. They are dependent on routines and can have higher sensitivity to sensory stimuli than other children. These children are one group who constitutes special challenges in reducing anxiety and creating participation in a high technology environment. This can make them prone to frightening encounters in health care settings if not cared for with special consideration. Aim: The overall aim of this thesis was to audit and enhance the care of children in a high technology environment in the health care system with a focus on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Methods: A descriptive design was used with both qualitative and quantitative methods. In Study I, 32 nurse anaesthetists were interviewed to explore the actions and experiences of caring for children in a high technology environment using a qualitative method, known as the Critical Incident Technique (CIT). In the two following studies (Study II, III) a cross-sectional design was used and two national surveys were performed to obtain knowledge on the status in Sweden regarding the care of children with ASD in high technology environments. Sixty-eight anaesthesia departments, 38 paediatric departments and 86 radiology departments responded to the survey. Descriptive statistic was used for the answers apart from the comments part of the questionnaire where qualitative content analysis was used. Due to the limited existence of guidelines in these environments, the creation ofevidence-based guidelines was performed in Study IV, using a Delphi method. The Delphi study was based on information gleaned from the previous studies and from the literature, and 21 experts identified in Study II and III were the expert panel developing the guidelines. Result: Nurses identified children with special needs such as children with ASD as a vulnerable group in a high technology environment (Study I). Seven departments in the anaesthesia context had guidelines for caring for children with ASD in the perioperative context. In the other departments, the care of children with ASD was dependent on the knowledge of the nurse presently working there (Study II). None of the radiology departments in Sweden had guidelines on how to care for children with ASD going through a radiographic examination without anaesthesia (Study III). As a result of Study I, II and III, the need for structured guidelines for caring for children with ASD in a high technology context was identified and a set of guidelines and a checklist was created. The guidelines relate to the organisational structure for the care of children with deficits in social interaction, communication, sensory sensitivity and dependence on routines. The checklist relates to gleaning information about the specific child to be able to give person-centred care based on the specific characteristic of the child (Study IV). Conclusion: Nurses working in a high technology environment in health care have diverse experiences of preventing anxiety in children with ASD coming for a challenging procedure. There are a limited number of evidence-based guidelines to decrease anxiety and to create participation in this group ofchildren. Evidence-based guidelines were created as a tool for enhancing person-centred care in a high technology environment for this group of children. The fact that several problems are assembled under one disorder makes ASD a useful condition to have as a basis for formulating national guidelines. Guidelines that cater for the care of children with ASD in a high technology environment using a person-centred approach may also extend to the care for children with other neurodevelopmental disorders that exhibit some of the same problems as children with ASD.