Deep touch pressure to calm children after tonsil and adenoid surgery
Effects of Deep Touch Pressure on Emergence Agitation in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study
NA · Seoul National University Hospital · NCT06966466
This will test whether wearing a HUGgy compression vest during recovery can reduce how often and how severely children aged 3 to 10 become agitated after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy under general anesthesia.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 94 (estimated) |
| Ages | 3 Years to 10 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Seoul National University Hospital (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Seoul, Seoul) |
| Trial ID | NCT06966466 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Children aged 3 to 10 scheduled for elective tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are randomly assigned to wear a HUGgy compression vest during the recovery period or receive standard postoperative care. The study measures incidence and severity of emergence agitation using the Pediatric Assessment of Emergence Delirium (PAED) scale and records recovery-room outcomes. Key exclusions include emergency surgery, known neurological disorders, severe psychiatric conditions, and chest skin problems that prevent safe vest use. The non‑pharmacologic intervention is applied only during the immediate postoperative recovery at a single center.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Children aged 3–10 years scheduled for elective tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy with no major neurological or psychiatric disorders and without chest skin issues that would prevent wearing the HUGgy vest.
Not a fit: Children with neurological disorders, severe psychiatric conditions (including autism), chest skin problems, emergency surgeries, or other contraindications to using the vest are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce children’s distress and lower the need for sedative medications during immediate recovery after surgery.
How similar studies have performed: Deep touch pressure has shown calming effects in sensory and behavioral contexts, but randomized evidence for reducing pediatric emergence agitation after anesthesia is limited, so this is a relatively novel application.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Pediatric patients aged 3 to 10 years scheduled for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy under general anesthesia. Exclusion Criteria: * Emergency surgery. * Known neurological disorders (e.g., epilepsy, cerebral palsy). * Skin disorders or injuries on the chest or upper body that prevent safe use of the compression vest (HUGgy). * History of severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, severe anxiety disorder). * History of severe allergic reactions to anesthesia. * Any condition that, in the investigator's judgment, makes the patient unsuitable for the study.
Where this trial is running
Seoul, Seoul
- Seoul National University Children's Hospital — Seoul, Seoul, South Korea (RECRUITING)
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Deep Touch Pressure