Pain control in paediatric burns--the use of patient-controlled analgesia

Eleven children received patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for the management of severe burn pain, their ages ranged from 4.75 to 14 years. Periods of PCA ranged from 2 to 131 days. Three patients developed evidence of tolerance as shown by high dose requirements, but the patients weaned themselves rapidly when pain levels fell. We conclude that PCA provides good quality analgesia to school-age children requiring debridement and grafting for burns. Its use simplified one major aspect of the management of these children.