15-Year-Old Plays Chess During Surgery to Manage Anxiety

A 15-year-old engaged in a game of chess during a minor surgical procedure on his foot. This was part of a hospital program aimed at alleviating patient anxiety through methods of distraction and relaxation. According to Medway Maritime Hospital, studies indicate that 75% of pediatric patients experience apprehension in the anaesthetic room. Calum was among the initial patients to participate in this treatment trial, utilizing chess during his operation in conjunction with additional relaxation methods. After the successful completion of the surgery, the 15-year-old patient was discharged immediately. Operating theatre personnel further assisted Calum in relaxing through deep breathing exercises and guided imagery, where he envisioned himself playing video games at home and consuming his preferred foods. The hospital stated that a key advantage of this method is circumventing the necessity for a general anaesthetic, which can be associated with an extended recovery period. Laura, Calum’s mother and a nursing employee at the hospital, expressed that the family was “really pleased with the experience overall”. She mentioned that despite some “initial fear about pain” related to the surgical procedure and the local anaesthetic injection, the staff effectively alleviated this apprehension through their attentive care and distraction strategies. She added, ‘’The chess match really kept his brain engaged and helped take his mind off the operation – he even won the game!’’. Dr. Samantha Black, a consultant paediatric and perioperative anaesthetist at Medway NHS Foundation Trust, commented: “Anaesthetic anxiety is a common challenge for anaesthetists, anaesthetic practitioners, and the wider team. “Managing this with our young patients can have many benefits, helping to minimise their distress, and that of their families and staff looking after them.“If not managed well, this can have consequences such as the child needing greater amounts of anaesthetic, increased delirium, pain and sickness, and delayed recovery, ultimately spending more time in hospital.”