Computer games found to be as good as drugs for relaxing youngsters before an operation

Computer games are as good as drugs at helping children relax before operations, a study found. Boys and girls that played on an iPad ahead of surgery were just as calm as those given powerful sedatives. The find comes from a French study of 112 children aged four to ten who were having day surgery. Half were given a sedative ahead of the anaesthetic, to calm their nerves and to help the actual anaesthetic take better. These'pre-meds' are often given to young children but can also be used to help anxious adults relax.