• S Malviya, T Voepel-Lewis, A R Tait, S Merkel, A Lauer, H Munro, and F Farley.
• Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Health Systems, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0211, USA. smalviya@umich.edu
• Paediatr Anaesth. 2001 Jul 1; 11 (4): 453-8.

BackgroundWe compared pain assessment and management practices in children with and without cognitive impairment (CI) undergoing spine fusion surgery.MethodsThe medical records of 42 children (19 with CI and 23 without) were reviewed and data related to demographics, surgery, pain assessment and management, and side-effects were recorded.ResultsFewer children with CI were assessed for pain on postoperative days (POD) 0-4 compared to those without CI (P < 0.002). Self-report was used for 81% of pain assessments in children without CI, while a behavioural tool was used for 75% of assessments in cognitively impaired children. Children with CI received smaller total opioid doses on POD 1-3 compared to those without CI (P < or = 0.02). Furthermore, children without CI received patient/nurse-controlled analgesia for more postoperative days than children with CI (P=0.02).ConclusionOur data demonstrate a discrepancy in pain management practices in children with and without CI following spine fusion.

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