Treatment of pain in acutely burned children

• Published in: Journal of burn care & rehabilitation Vol. 23; no. 2; p. 135
• Main Authors: Stoddard, F J, Sheridan, R L, Saxe, G N, King, B S, King, B H, Chedekel, D S, Schnitzer, J J, Martyn, J A J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-03-2002
• Subjects: Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; Analgesics, Opioid - therapeutic use; Anesthetics, Dissociative; Anti-Anxiety Agents - therapeutic use; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - therapeutic use; Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use; Antipsychotic Agents - therapeutic use; Benzodiazepines; Burns - physiopathology; Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives - therapeutic use; Infant; Pain - drug therapy; Pain - physiopathology; Pain - psychology; Pain Measurement; Palliative Care; Respiration, Artificial; Tissue Expansion; Ventilator Weaning
• ISSN: 0273-8481
• DOI: 10.1097/00004630-200203000-00012

The child with burns suffers severe pain at the time of the burn and during subsequent treatment and rehabilitation. Pain has adverse physiological and emotional effects, and research suggests that pain management is an important factor in better outcomes. There is increasing understanding of the private experience of pain, and how children benefit from honest preparation for procedures. Developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive pain assessment, pain relief, and reevaluation have improved, becoming essential in treatment. Pharmacological treatment is primary, strengthened by new concepts from neurobiology, clinical science, and the introduction of more effective drugs with fewer adverse side effects and less toxicity. Empirical evaluation of various hypnotic, cognitive, behavioral, and sensory treatment methods is advancing. Multidisciplinary assessment helps to integrate psychological and pharmacological pain-relieving interventions to reduce emotional and mental stress, and family stress as well. Optimal care encourages burn teams to integrate pain guidelines into protocols and critical pathways for improved care.