Faculty Collaboration Database

Parent/Nurse-Controlled Analgesia Compared with Intravenous PRN Opioids for Postsurgical Pain Management in Children with Developmental Delay: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Pain Med 2018 Apr 01;19(4):742-752

Date

11/04/2017

Pubmed ID

29099960

DOI

10.1093/pm/pnx257

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85057473652 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   5 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to conduct a randomized, controlled comparison of outcomes associated with parent/nurse-controlled analgesia (PNCA), with and without a basal (background) opioid infusion, with intravenous (IV) opioids intermittently administered by a nurse on an "as needed" basis (IV PRN) for postoperative pain management in children with developmental delay (DD).

METHODS: Participants included children with DD expected to require IV opioids for at least 24 postoperative hours. Patients were randomized to one of three groups: PNCA with a basal infusion, PNCA without a basal infusion, or IV PRN opioids. Demographics, pain scores, opioid consumption, and frequency of side effects were collected beginning 12 hours after emerging from anesthesia to decrease the impact of anesthetic agents on outcomes.

RESULTS: The 81 participants (median = 12.0, 9.0-15.0 years) were primarily Caucasian (74%) males (58%), with severe DD (69%) having spinal surgery (41%). The proportion of patients in each group with pain scores ≤3 vs ≥ 4 revealed no between-group differences in any epoch (P = 0.09-0.27). Patients in the PNCA with a basal group consumed significantly more opioid (median = 0.03 mg/kg/h morphine equivalents, 0.02-0.03 mg/kg/h) than the PNCA without a basal infusion. No difference was found between the PNCA without a basal (median = 0.01 mg/kg/h morphine equivalents, 0.00-0.02 mg/kg/h) and the PRN groups (median = 0.01 mg/kg/h morphine equivalents, 0.01-0.02 mg/kg/h). There were no statistically significant differences in side effects, with the exception that more children in the PNCA group required supplemental oxygen (P = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest there may be no advantage to PNCA over PRN opioids in this patient population after the first 12 postoperative hours with regard to pain scores, opioid consumption, or side effects.

Author List

Czarnecki ML, Hainsworth KR, Simpson PM, Weisman SJ

Authors

Keri Hainsworth PhD Director, Associate Professor in the Anesthesiology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Pippa M. Simpson PhD Adjunct Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Steven J. Weisman MD Professor in the Anesthesiology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Administration, Intravenous
Adolescent
Analgesics, Opioid
Child
Developmental Disabilities
Female
Humans
Male
Pain Management
Pain, Postoperative
Parents