According to research presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2022 annual meeting, the behaviour of a child three months following surgery remained unaffected by the emergence delirium. During the period following anesthetic recovery, the patient may experience confusion, hallucinations, restlessness, and uncontrolled hyperactivity.

The Behavior Assessment System for Children was used to assess behaviour twice: before surgery and three months later. In the study, which ran from September 2018 to February 2021, sixty-eight preschoolers between the ages of 2.5 and 6 were enrolled. The most frequent procedures were those for the ears, nose, and throat. The average time spent under anesthesia was 75 minutes. 35% of the children had emerging delirium.

Despite the emergence delirium, the study indicated that three months after surgery, there were no real behavioral issues. The study reassures medical professionals and parents of children who require surgery that receiving general anesthesia wont result in long-term behavioral problems.

(Source: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20221024/Emergence-delirium-does-not-affect-childrens-behavior-three-months-after-surgery.aspx)