Pain management practices in children after surgery

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 10, 2026

Acupoint Needle-Embedding Combined with Ironing Therapy for Postoperative Pain After Anal Surgery
05:39

Acupoint Needle-Embedding Combined with Ironing Therapy for Postoperative Pain After Anal Surgery

Published on: June 23, 2023

H L Helgadóttir1

  • 1Department of Nursing, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.

Journal of Pediatric Nursing
|November 15, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric pain management in Iceland is inadequate, with many infants and children not receiving therapeutic doses of pain medication postoperatively. This study highlights significant deviations from recommended pain medication ranges in both prescriptions and administrations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Pain Management
  • Clinical Pharmacy

Background:

  • Effective postoperative pain management is crucial for pediatric recovery.
  • Inadequate pain control can lead to adverse outcomes in infants and children.
  • Current practices require evaluation to ensure therapeutic dosing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the current practice of prescribing and administering postoperative pain medication to pediatric patients.
  • To determine if infants and children at National University Hospital in Iceland receive therapeutic doses of pain medication.
  • To identify potential inadequacies in pediatric pain management protocols.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients.
  • Analysis of pain medication prescriptions for therapeutic range adherence.
  • Evaluation of administered pain medication doses for accuracy.

Main Results:

  • 38% of pain medication prescriptions were within the therapeutic range.
  • 41% of prescriptions were below therapeutic range, and 21% were above.
  • Only 32% of administered pain medication doses were within the therapeutic range, with 22% below and 46% above.

Conclusions:

  • Current pediatric pain management at the studied institution is inadequate.
  • Significant discrepancies exist between prescribed and administered pain medication doses.
  • Further investigation and intervention are needed to optimize pediatric postoperative pain control.

Related Concept Videos

Peripheral Artery Disease V: Postoperative Nursing Management01:23

Peripheral Artery Disease V: Postoperative Nursing Management

During the postoperative period, it is crucial to focus on maintaining circulation, identifying and managing potential complications, and planning for discharge.Nursing AssessmentVital signs monitoring: Regularly monitor vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature, to detect early signs of complications such as bleeding and infection.Circulation assessment: Monitor pulses, perform Doppler assessments, and check capillary refill, color, temperature, and...
Endoscopic Procedures IV: Sigmoidoscopy and Laproscopy01:26

Endoscopic Procedures IV: Sigmoidoscopy and Laproscopy

Sigmoidoscopy and laparoscopy are distinct medical procedures that enable physicians to internally inspect different parts of the GI tract. Although they serve different purposes, each is essential for diagnosing and, in some cases, treating various medical conditions.
Sigmoidoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that uses a flexible sigmoidoscope equipped with a light source and camera to examine the rectum and sigmoid colon. The procedure involves inserting the tube through the anus...
Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview01:24

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview

Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.
Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses01:31

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses

Skeletal muscle relaxants are used to relax muscle tone and alleviate painful muscle contractions. However, the choice of skeletal muscle relaxants depends on the duration of the surgical procedure in order to minimize potential side effects. Skeletal muscle relaxants like neuromuscular blocking agents [NMBAs] are commonly employed as adjuvants alongside general anesthetics in clinical settings. NMBAs are also used to maintain controlled ventilation during surgery of the larynx or pharynx as...
General Anesthesia: Overview01:24

General Anesthesia: Overview

Anesthesia is a medical procedure that uses drugs for CNS suppression to enable painless surgeries and procedures. The selection of anesthetics is influenced by their pharmacokinetic properties, side effects, and patient characteristics. Various types of anesthesia include general, local, regional, spinal, and inhalational.
General anesthesia induces unconsciousness in the whole body, while the others target specific areas or sensations. It is administered to minimize adverse effects, maintain...
Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...