The principles of pain management for children are the same as adults. After surgery children will be given a narcotic medicine (eg. Morphine) in an Intravenous 'drip' infusion to relieve pain. The length of time for this infusion is individual according to your baby/child's need. If your child requires a ventilator for breathing an intravenous sedative drug will be administered to keep them sleepy, relaxed and pain free.
After extubation (removal of the breathing tube), your child may still remain on a lower dose of narcotic infusion (eg Morphine). The combination of oral drugs used will depend on the age of your child, for example Panadol, Painstop (Panadol, Codeine, Phenergan), Brufen or Panadeine. If your child's pain is well controlled this will enable your child to breathe deeply and move easily, promoting postoperative recovery. Adequate pain relief is also important for psychological comfort of the child.
Children over the age of three years are taught a Pain Rating Scale before their procedure. This is used as a guide of the child's own pain at rest and movement, and as a guide to the child's response to medication.
For children over the age of five years, a Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) pump is used for pain relief. This is an Intravenous drip that has a button that the child uses to receive a small dose of Narcotic (eg Morphine). This will usually relieve the child's pain within approximately five -ten minutes. PCA devices are very safe and have been used in Paediatric pain management for many years. The pump is programmed so the child can only deliver a certain number of doses within a given time frame or it will go into 'lockout' (i.e. dose not able to be delivered). This means that children cannot overdose themselves on the medication. Staff frequently check the child's use or 'demand' for medication.
Parents can help in their child's pain management by assisting the staff in the use of the Pain Rating Scale and in the administration of oral medication. Oral medication is administered regularly for the first few days and then is gradually reduced to every six to eight hours in response to your child's needs.
If you have any concerns regarding your baby/child's pain, please discuss
this with the nurse/doctor caring for your baby/child.
Last Updated: December 2003
Last Reviewed: December 2003
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