Author: Stricker PA et al.
Anesthesiology. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000005693
This international study developed core outcome sets for pediatric perioperative research through a structured, multi-phase process guided by the COMET initiative. Stakeholders included patients, parents/guardians, nurses, anesthesiologists, and surgeons from nine countries.
A total of 1,178 participants completed the survey: 180 pediatric patients, 587 parents/guardians, and 411 healthcare providers. Sixty-seven expert stakeholders then participated in a two-round Delphi process, followed by virtual consensus meetings. Core outcome sets were established for neonates, infants, children (1–12 years), and adolescents (13–17 years).
All age groups’ core outcomes included cardiovascular or respiratory adverse events, pain, assessment of pain relief, and unplanned medical attention. Quality of recovery was included for all but neonates, while return to normal function was an additional outcome for adolescents.
The authors recommend incorporating these standardized outcomes in pediatric perioperative studies to enable consistency, comparability, and relevance to both clinical practice and patient/family priorities.
References
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Stricker PA, Vutskits L, de Graaff JC, et al. Anesthesiology. 2025. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000005693.
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