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Updated: Jun 15, 2026

An Experimental Paradigm for the Prediction of Post-Operative Pain (PPOP)
14:56

An Experimental Paradigm for the Prediction of Post-Operative Pain (PPOP)

Published on: January 27, 2010

Beyond pain: predictors of postoperative maladaptive behavior change in children

Michelle A Fortier1, Antonio M Del Rosario, Abraham Rosenbaum

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care, University of California-Irvine, CA, USA. mfortier@choc.org

Paediatric Anaesthesia
|March 5, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Postoperative behavior changes are common in children after surgery. Preexisting child factors, not just pain, predict these changes, aiding in prevention and management.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Child Psychology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Maladaptive behavior changes in children post-surgery are documented.
  • Previous studies often lack control for confounding variables like pain and surgical techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence of behavior change in children after surgery.
  • To identify risk factors for postoperative behavior change, controlling for pain and surgical factors.

Main Methods:

  • 260 children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy were studied.
  • Baseline data, pain, and behavioral recovery were assessed for two weeks post-surgery.
  • Standardized anesthesia and surgical procedures were used with validated measures.

Main Results:

  • 80.4% of children showed negative behavior changes on the first day home.
  • Behavior changes persisted for two weeks in nearly one-third of children.
  • Preexisting anxiety/depression, younger age, and inhibited temperament predicted specific behavioral issues.

Conclusions:

  • Child-specific factors, beyond pain, predict postoperative behavior changes.
  • Identifying these predictors can help prevent and manage behavioral recovery difficulties.
  • This research offers insights into supporting children's adjustment after surgery.
Abstract

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