Lecture notes Contexts of Care (SHN169)

SHN169 – Pharmacological & Non-Pharmacological Management of Pain


Pharmacological and Non-pharmacological management of pain

Aims & Objectives
 Discuss why pain management in CYP is important
 Pharmacological Management
 Non-Pharmacological Management

Why is managing pain important?
 The aims of managing acute pain in children are to:
o Rapidly identify pain
o Prevent pain if possible
o Control pain by administering analgesia
o Monitor to prevent adverse effects
o Address emotional component of pain

What analgesia?
 The World Health Organisation (WHO) has produced new guidelines on the
pharmacological treatment of pain in children, they include:
o Two step strategy




o Dosing at regular intervals
o Using appropriate route of administration
o Adapting treatment to the individual child

Analgesia used in the ED
 Intranasal diamorphine
o Inhaled analgesia
o Provides immediate analgesia to children in pain within A&E with no IV
access
o Suitable for children with fractures, burn injuries etc.
 Entonox
o Useful for children having short but painful procedures


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