• Michelle L Czarnecki, Keri R Hainsworth, Pippa M Simpson, and Steven J Weisman.
• Jane B. Pettit Pain and Headache Center, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
• Pain Med. 2018 Apr 1; 19 (4): 742-752.

ObjectivesThe 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).MethodsParticipants 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.ResultsThe 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).ConclusionsResults 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.

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