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Published on: July 4, 2018

Assessment and management of pain in the critically ill pediatric patient

L L Oakes1

  • 1Division of Patient Care Services, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105-2794, USA.

Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America
|February 28, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Effective management of children's pain requires addressing myths and improving clinician knowledge. This review highlights essential medications, techniques, and approaches for adequate pediatric analgesia, even in critically ill children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pain Management
  • Clinical Analgesia

Background:

  • Despite advances, children's pain management remains suboptimal.
  • Myths, inadequate assessment, and insufficient knowledge hinder effective pain relief.
  • Clinician misconceptions about pediatric pain exacerbate the problem.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on effective pediatric pain management.
  • To provide clinicians with information on available treatments for children's pain.
  • To emphasize the importance of adequate analgesia for all children, including the critically ill.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of pediatric pain management strategies.
  • Synthesis of information on medications, techniques, and approaches for analgesia.
  • Focus on evidence-based practices for pain assessment and treatment.

Main Results:

  • Identified persistent myths and knowledge gaps in pediatric pain care.
  • Highlighted the critical role of clinician education in improving pain management.
  • Emphasized the availability of effective pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.

Conclusions:

  • Addressing misconceptions and enhancing clinician knowledge are crucial for effective pediatric pain management.
  • Adequate analgesia is achievable for all children with appropriate application of reviewed methods.
  • Continuous education and updated knowledge are vital for optimizing pain relief in pediatric patients.

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