Introduction: Hospitalization is a negative tonality experience for both child and family, being fear and anxiety their emotional mirror. Concerning the surgical experience, the environment, invasiveness, fear of pain, of not waking up from anaesthesia and parental separation are both causes and enhancers of child and family perioperative distress. A study concerning parent's emotional experience of child's submitted to cardiac surgery, refer guilt for their son's cardiopathy, a roller coaster of emotions, impotence and being seated on pins and needles while waiting during the surgery.
Objective: Identify and map the scientific production concerning nursing interventions that promote child and family's perioperative emotional management.
Methods: Literature was searched in CINAHL and MEDLINE, and also on Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports and Cochrane Library. Search was done using all identified keywords and index terms. The study will consider quantitative and qualitative studies, as well as systematic reviews. The quantitative studies will include, although not being limited to experimental and epidemiological study designs. The qualitative studies will include, although not being limited to phenomenology, grounded theory and ethnography. The systematic reviews will include meta analysis and meta synthesis. Unpublished literature will also be considered.
Results: Specifically in paediatric perioperative care, the use of preoperative programs based on psycho-emotional resources adapted to the child's age range, results in fear and anxiety's reduction and consequently increasing well- -being. Regarding parental presence during anaesthetic induction, it has a very important effect in decreasing both child and parent's anxiety. However, it should be supported and programed so that it is safe and effective. Communication with family during surgery, attending to multidisciplinary organization, periodicity and supported by a nursing liaison program, is particularly important in decreasing family's anxiety during intraoperative period.
Conclusion: Family centred care are the paediatrics' care philosophy. Concerning the perioperative period, it expresses through several interventions like preoperative preparation, parental presence and nursing liaison. These nursing interventions are particularly important in decreasing stress and anxiety, promoting safety, respect and well-being, and also because it promotes the child's development and facilitates future experiences.