Using a toy car to reduce anxiety before surgery in young children

This trial is testing whether a simple, fun approach—riding in a toy car instead of being wheeled on a stretcher—can help young children feel less anxious before surgery and recover better afterward. Researchers will compare two groups of boys having throat surgery: one group will ride a toy car to the operating room, and the other will use a standard hospital stretcher. The study measures anxiety at several points before surgery and watches for confusion or agitation after surgery wears off.

Many young children feel very scared before surgery, which can make the experience harder on them and their families. This trial is exploring a simple, non-drug way to make the journey to surgery less frightening and to see if it helps children recover more smoothly after the operation.