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Methodologies for the treatment of acute and chronic nononcologic pain in children

M Astuto1, G Rosano, G Rizzo

  • 1Department of Anaesthesia, University Hospital, Catania, Italy. astmar@tiscali.it

Minerva Anestesiologica
|July 31, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Effective pain management in children is crucial, especially for acute and chronic pain. A multimodal approach integrating psychological techniques and medical treatments like loco-regional anesthesia is recommended for optimal pain prevention and control.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Pain Management

Background:

  • Historically, children's pain has been underestimated.
  • Analgesic treatment is now integral for managing acute and chronic pain in pediatric patients.
  • Postoperative pain is a significant surgical complication requiring proactive prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To emphasize the importance of pain prevention in pediatric surgery.
  • To advocate for the establishment of dedicated "pain services" for children.
  • To outline a comprehensive strategy for pediatric pain management.

Main Methods:

  • Implementing a multimodal approach to pain management.
  • Utilizing loco-regional anesthesia techniques with diverse pharmacological agents (opioids, NSAIDs, paracetamol).
  • Employing nonmedical interventions (distraction, relaxation, guided imagery) and medical treatments (local anesthesia, conscious/deep sedation, general anesthesia) for procedural pain.

Main Results:

  • Nonmedical psychological techniques demonstrate significant efficacy in managing procedural pain in children.
  • A multimodal strategy combining medical and nonmedical interventions is effective for pain control.
  • Integrated pain prevention planning across preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases is essential.

Conclusions:

  • Pain prevention should be prioritized over treatment in pediatric surgical care.
  • A comprehensive pain management plan, including psychological and pharmacological interventions, is vital for children.
  • The development of specialized "pain services" can enhance pediatric pain management outcomes.

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