Pediatric Pain Management Flashcards
Studies have found that compared to adults:
- children receive LESS DOSES of analgesics
- children received INAPPROPRIATE DOSES OR MEDICATIONS for pain
Which can lead to:
* delayed healing
* altered pain perception with subsequent episodes
* stress for caregivers
* avoidance of medical procedures in adulthood
What are the differences in Pain Management of Children?
- Differences in ADME / pharmacodynamics
- Challenges in pain assessment
- Individualized dosing
- Drug administration considerations
What about absorption?
- neonates – higher stomach pH, delayed gastric emptying
- no issues observed with oral opioids in neonates
- fentanyl patch avoid children < 2 years (b/c skin is thin - absorption can be unpredictable)
What about distribution?
- relatively greater body water neonates/infants
- opioids are lipophilic→less impact on Vd
What about metabolism
- immature liver enzymes at birth → activity increases over first year of life
- Phase I and II enzyme activity decreased
- morphine metabolized morphine-6-glucuronide (active) and morphine-3-glucuronide (inactive metabolite)
- neonates produce relative more of inactive morphine metabolite
What about excretion?
- neonates and young infants - immature kidneys, decreased creatinine clearance
- caution NSAIDs, morphine in neonates
- infant < 30 days (neonate) : morphine 0.05 to 0.1 mg/kg/dose PO every 4-8 hours
- infant > 6 months: morphine 0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg/dose PO every 2- 4 hours
(as they get older, ability to clear drug gets better so can dose higher)
What is the bottom line for developmental pharmacokinetics considerations?
Be especially cautious when evaluating or recommending doses for neonates and infants < 6 months, due to differences in ADME compared to adults particularly renal and hepatic function.
What are the sources of pain in children?
- surgical / procedural pain
- immunizations / bloodwork
- musculoskeletal
- infections
- cancer
- burns
- neurologic
- neuropathic
- underlying disease state
- Can be ACUTE or CHRONIC
What is the pain physiology?
- Similar to adults
- Exception premature neonates:
- immature descending paint pathways until > 32 weeks gestational age
- lower pain threshold
- can lead to hyperalgesia
(if premature, will have low pain threshold & can feel pain if even touching skin?)
What is the expression of pain dependent on?
- age of child
- cognitive ability
- previous experience with pain
- anxiety / fear
(hard to tell if really in pain or just scared)
What do you assess pain using a combo of?
- self-report
- pain assessment tools
- physiological symptoms
Neonates:
infant < 30 days old
Premature neonate:
infant born < 37 weeks gestation age
What are the behaviour/physiologic response of neonates & infants?
- facial expressions
- excessive crying
- arching, restlessness
- clenched fingers / toes
- increase heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure
Neonatal Pain, Agitation & Sedation Scale (N-PASS) & Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS):
Premature & term infants
N-PASS for neonates in ICU
Faces Leg Activity Cry Consolability Scale (FLACC):
2 mo - 7 years
useful non-verbal children, relies on behavioural scale
FACES:
3 years & older
useful in pre-school children, faces maybe misinterpreted as emotional state
Visual Analog/Numeric Rating Scale:
limited evidence in children
Non-Communicating Children’s Pain Checklist (NCCPC):
cognitive impaired child
scoring done by caregiver, can be time-consuming
In the community, consider referring to doctor if:
- concurrent symptoms potentially indicative of other conditions ex. fever, rash, nausea/vomiting, neurological symptoms
- severe pain
- pain not relieved by current medications
- decreasing mobility
- unknown cause of pain
Non-pharmacologic treatment for Neonates/Infants:
- quiet, low light environment
- swaddling
- skin to skin contact
- music
- pacifier
- sucrose solution (Toot SweetTM, SweetUmsTM) - release of endogenous opioids & a distraction (lasts 3-5 mins)
Non-pharmacologic treatment for Toddler/Pre-School Children:
- child friendly room (decor, pictures)
- comfort position
- explaining procedure / allow questions
- distractions (blowing bubbles, toys, books,
phone, non-procedural conversation)
Non-pharmacologic treatment for Older Children:
- education about procedure (ex: ask which side they want vaccine)
- distractions (videos, music, singing, reading)
- positive reinforcement
- breathing exercises
- imagery
- Buzzy Pain Relief SystemTM (above arrow of needle - block the sensation of pain (b/c travel to area the same))