The management of paediatric acute pain in Spain in 2021: Results of a national survey among paediatric anaesthesiologists

F Reinoso-Barbero; R López-López; M D Cárceles Barón; M Hervías-Sánz; J García-Fernández; Pediatric Anesthesia Section of Pediatric Anesthesia Working Group of SEDAR

doi:10.1016/j.redare.2024.02.016

The management of paediatric acute pain in Spain in 2021: Results of a national survey among paediatric anaesthesiologists

Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim (Engl Ed). 2024 Feb 24:S2341-1929(24)00038-6. doi: 10.1016/j.redare.2024.02.016. Online ahead of print.

Authors

F Reinoso-Barbero¹, R López-López², M D Cárceles Barón³, M Hervías-Sánz⁴, J García-Fernández⁵; Pediatric Anesthesia Section of Pediatric Anesthesia Working Group of SEDAR

Affiliations

¹ Servicio de Anestesiología, Cuidados Intensivos Quirúrgicos y Tratamiento del Dolor Infantil, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: francisco.reinoso@uam.es.
² Grupo de Trabajo de Dolor Infantil de la Sección Pediátrica de la SEDAR, Sección de Anestesiología Pediátrica, Servicio Anestesiología, Reanimación y Tratamiento del Dolor, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain.
³ Departamento de Cirugía, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
⁴ Sección Pediátrica de la SEDAR, Sección Pediátrica, Hospital Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
⁵ Sección Pediátrica y de la SEDAR, Servicio de Anestesiología, Cuidados Intensivos Quirúrgicos y Tratamiento del Dolor, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.

PMID: 38408610
DOI: 10.1016/j.redare.2024.02.016

Abstract

Objective: To improve knowledge about routine clinical practice in the management of paediatric acute pain in Spain.

Methods: A telematic survey was conducted via the Internet on a representative sample of healthcare professionals involved in the management of paediatric acute pain (specifically anaesthesiologists) in Spain. The survey included 28 questions about their usual clinical practice in the assessment and treatment of acute pain, and also training and organisational aspects in paediatric acute pain.

Results: The survey was completed during March 2021 by 150 specialists in anaesthesiology. The respondents widely experienced in the management of acute paediatric pain (mean years of experience: 14.3: SD: 7.8), essentially in acute postoperative pain (97% of cases). Although 80% routinely used validated paediatric acute pain assessment scales, only 2.6% used specific scales adapted for patients with cognitive impairment. Most of the respondents routinely used analgesic drugs such as paracetamol (99%) or metamizole (92%), but only 84% complemented these drugs with a loco-regional blocking technique or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (62%). Furthermore, only 62.7% acknowledged having received specific training in paediatric acute pain, only 45% followed hospital institutional protocols, and a scant 28% did so through paediatric pain units.

Conclusions: The survey identified important points for improvement in the training and organisation of acute pain management in Spanish paediatric patients.

Keywords: Dolor agudo pediátrico; Encuestas profesionales; Evaluación del dolor pediátrico; Formación en dolor; Paediatric acute pain; Paediatric analgesic treatment; Paediatric pain assessment; Paediatric pain units; Pain training; Professional surveys; Tratamiento analgésico pediátrico; Unidades de dolor infantil.