Children Want Better Pain Treatment [Survey Reveals]

The Inselspital of the University Hospital of Bern and the University of Bern has made a significant study on better treatment in children at 12 centers in four European countries. Data revealed a need for better pain treatment in almost 1 in 4 children, hence better pain management in kids. The research found the possibility to reduce the usual meds after surgery as a safety measure.

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The research

Experts and authors of the study chose to research this topic because several children in their hospital go through various surgeries and operations. 

They wanted to learn more about pain management in kids and whether a better pain treatment would be helpful. Since these are children, the need for better pain treatment and pain management in kids is highly vital and crucial, especially for parents who are sick and worried about their children. 

Children who undergo surgery

Such data came from children who went under the surgical removal of their appendix and tonsil. 

After doctors removed their appendix, 24.8% of all children wanted better pain treatment in the first 24 hours after their operation. 

Among children who had surgical removal of their tonsils, 20.2% wanted better pain treatment. The results showed that there is a need for better pain management in kids. 

Prof. Ulrike M. Stamer, the lead author of the study, said that they lead with many affected children patients. The mentioned operations of the removal of appendix and tonsil are the two most common operations being done on children all in all. 

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Pain management among kids

The study was based on the international pain registry "PAIN OUT infant," made in 2015 to track pain management quality in kids. The study consists of 472 children who went under appendectomies. The study also consists of 466 children who went under tonsillectomies. 

Data showed based on the survey that observations mentioned more side effects in children who wanted a better pain treatment, hence, the need for better pain management in kids. 

A shocking result came from analyzing survey data and comparing the meds used before and after these children's operations. They found out that children who had been given at least two different classes of meds (NSAIDs, metamizole, or paracetamol) as a safety measure were less likely to ask for better pain treatment. They observed this after they were asked 24 hours after their surgery. 

The future of the research

Prof. Frank Stuber, Head of the Department of Anesthesiology at the Inselspital of the University Hospital of Bern, is looking very hopeful and is looking forward to the future of this research. He said that they have been able to know a bright path with such study results.

He added that safety management of at least two different classes of those meds being given appears to be a way to reduce the use of higher doses of such meds after children's surgery. The study was published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia. 

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