Perioperative Pain Management in Children

Perioperative Pain Management in Children

Perioperative Pain Management in Children

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Pediatric Pain Assessment - Ouch Detectives

Essential for guiding treatment. Challenges: communication, development.

  • Pain Scales by Age:
    • Neonates/Infants (Non-verbal):
      • FLACC: Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (Score 0-10).
      • CRIES: Post-op neonatal pain (Score 0-10).
      • NIPS: Procedural pain, neonates.
    • Toddlers/Preschoolers (Can point/verbalize minimally):
      • Wong-Baker FACES: Ages >3 yrs. 6 faces.
      • FLACC: Applicable if non-verbal.
    • School-Age/Adolescents (Self-report):
      • NRS (Numeric Rating Scale): Ages >8 yrs (0-10).
      • Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
  • Physiological: HR, BP, SpO2 (adjunctive, non-specific).
  • Remember: Regular assessment, validated tools, involve caregivers. Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale

⭐ Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale is preferred for children 3-7 years; simple visual representation of pain.

Pediatric Analgesic Pharmacology - Potion Control

  • Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)
    • Oral/Rectal: 10-15 mg/kg q4-6h (Max: 75 mg/kg/day)
    • IV: 7.5-15 mg/kg q6h (Max: 60 mg/kg/day)
    • ⚠️ Hepatotoxicity risk with overdose.
  • NSAIDs (e.g., Ibuprofen, Diclofenac)
    • Ibuprofen: 5-10 mg/kg q6-8h PO (Max: 40 mg/kg/day)
    • Diclofenac: 0.5-1 mg/kg q8-12h (Max: 3 mg/kg/day)
    • Ketorolac (IV/IM): 0.5 mg/kg q6h (Max 2 mg/kg/day; use <5 days)
    • ⚠️ Renal, GI, platelet effects. Avoid if asthma, renal issues, bleeding risk. Opioid-sparing.
  • Opioids (Monitor respiratory status closely; titrate to effect)
    • Morphine (IV): 0.05-0.1 mg/kg q3-4h. Metabolite M6G accumulates in renal failure.
    • Fentanyl (IV): 0.5-1 mcg/kg (short-acting, potent).
    • Tramadol: 1-2 mg/kg q4-6h (Max: 8 mg/kg/day). Weak opioid.
    • Naloxone (reversal): 0.001-0.01 mg/kg IV.
  • Adjuvants (Enhance analgesia, reduce opioid needs)
    • Ketamine (low dose IV): 0.1-0.3 mg/kg as bolus or infusion.
    • α2-agonists (Clonidine, Dexmedetomidine): Sedative, analgesic.
    • Gabapentinoids: For neuropathic pain.

Morphine injection vial and syringe

⭐ Codeine is generally avoided in children <12 years and breastfeeding mothers due to unpredictable CYP2D6 metabolism, risking morphine overdose in ultra-rapid metabolizers.

Regional Anesthesia in Children - Numb & Number

  • Goal: Superior analgesia, ↓ opioids, faster recovery.
  • Common Blocks & Doses (Bupivacaine 0.25% / Ropivacaine 0.2%):
    • Caudal: Infraumbilical. Bup: 1-1.25 mg/kg (max 2.5 mg/kg); Rop: 1 mg/kg (max 2 mg/kg).
    • Epidural: Major surgery. Dose varies.
    • Spinal: Ex-premies, short procedures. Bup: 0.3-0.5 mg/kg.
    • PNBs: USG standard. e.g., Femoral, Axillary. Ultrasound Guided Pediatric Caudal Block
  • LA Max Doses (Plain):
    • Lidocaine: 5 mg/kg (with epi: 7 mg/kg)
    • Bupivacaine/Levobupivacaine: 2.5 mg/kg
    • Ropivacaine: 3 mg/kg
  • Adjuncts (Prolong Block): Clonidine 1-2 mcg/kg, Dexmedetomidine 0.5-1 mcg/kg.
  • ⚠️ LAST: CNS (seizures), CVS (arrhythmias). Treat: Intralipid 20%.

⭐ Caudal block is the most common regional technique in children for surgeries below the umbilicus.

Non-Pharmacological & Multimodal Pain Relief - Comfort Crew

  • Non-Pharmacological:
    • Psychological: Parental presence, distraction, play therapy.
    • Physical: Oral sucrose (infants <6m), non-nutritive sucking, swaddling.
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
  • Multimodal Analgesia:
    • Combines analgesics with different mechanisms.
    • Goal: Opioid-sparing, ↑ efficacy, ↓ adverse effects.

    ⭐ Sucrose (24%) provides effective analgesia for procedural pain in neonates and young infants (e.g., heel pricks).

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Pain assessment is age-specific: FLACC scale (non-verbal), Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (verbal).
  • Multimodal analgesia (opioids, NSAIDs, paracetamol, regional techniques) is the cornerstone of pediatric pain management.
  • Regional anesthesia (e.g., caudal, epidural, peripheral nerve blocks) provides superior, opioid-sparing analgesia.
  • Paracetamol and NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen) are effective for mild to moderate pain; monitor for side effects.
  • Opioids (e.g., morphine, fentanyl) are used for moderate to severe pain; titrate carefully due to respiratory depression risk.
  • Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) can be considered for children older than 5-7 years.
  • Non-pharmacological methods (e.g., distraction, sucrose for infants) are important adjuncts to pharmacological therapy.

Practice Questions: Perioperative Pain Management in Children

Test your understanding with these related questions

The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale (CHEOPS) for rating postoperative pain in children under one year excludes all of the following, EXCEPT:

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Flashcards: Perioperative Pain Management in Children

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A _____mm endotracheal tube and laryngoscopy blade of size _____ are used to intubate a preterm infant

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

A _____mm endotracheal tube and laryngoscopy blade of size _____ are used to intubate a preterm infant

3; 0

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