Tue Nov 26 02:14:20 UTC 2024: ## Teen Plays Chess During Foot Surgery to Reduce Anxiety
**Medway, UK** – A 15-year-old boy successfully underwent a minor foot operation while playing chess as part of a new hospital initiative designed to alleviate anxiety in young patients. Medway Maritime Hospital reports that 75% of children experience anxiety in the anaesthetic room, prompting the trial of distraction and relaxation techniques.
Calum, one of the first patients to participate, played chess during his procedure, complemented by deep breathing exercises and guided imagery techniques. The hospital staff helped him visualize playing video games and enjoying his favorite foods to further reduce his stress. This approach, the hospital explains, minimizes the need for general anesthesia, leading to faster recovery times. Calum was able to go home immediately following the successful surgery.
His mother, Laura, a nurse at the hospital, praised the staff’s care and the effectiveness of the distraction techniques in calming Calum’s pre-operative fears. She noted that the chess game kept him engaged and helped him focus on something other than the procedure. “He even won the game!”, she added.
Dr. Samantha Black, consultant paediatric and perioperative anaesthetist, highlighted the benefits of managing anaesthetic anxiety in young patients. She explained that reducing distress minimizes the need for increased anesthesia, potentially avoiding negative consequences such as delirium, pain, sickness, and extended hospital stays.
First Piper 