Judging the Effectiveness of Analgesia for Children and Adolescents During Vaso-Occlusive Events of Sickle Cell Disease

The effectiveness of analgesia during sickle cell crisis was examined in this descriptive, exploratory study. Pain scores (using the African-American Oucher and the Adolescent Pediatric Pain Tool) and analgesics administered were examined during a 2-hour observation/interview in the hospital while c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of pain and symptom management 2000, Vol.19 (1), p.63-72
Main Author: Beyer, Judith E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Analgesia - standards
Analgesics
Analgesics, Opioid - therapeutic use
and analgesics
Anemia, Sickle Cell - complications
Biological and medical sciences
Child
children
comfort
Female
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Medical sciences
Nalbuphine - therapeutic use
Neuropharmacology
Pain
Pain - physiopathology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
sickle cell disease
Vascular Diseases - etiology
Vascular Diseases - physiopathology
Vascular Diseases - therapy
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Summary:The effectiveness of analgesia during sickle cell crisis was examined in this descriptive, exploratory study. Pain scores (using the African-American Oucher and the Adolescent Pediatric Pain Tool) and analgesics administered were examined during a 2-hour observation/interview in the hospital while children/adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) experienced a vaso-occlusive episode (VOE). A convenience sample of twenty-one 6- to 16-year olds with SCD was included. Evidence indicated that 15 of the 21 children in the sample were in moderate to severe pain during their interviews, indicating that the analgesics did not effectively control their pain. Most participants (17) had received nalbuphine as the primary analgesic by intravenous infusion drip and/or patient-controlled analgesia pump. Many reasons were identified for the inadequate analgesia. The results suggested that the pain of SCD is very complex, requiring continuous adjustment of comfort measures, especially analgesics. More research is needed to examine pain control in children with SCD.
ISSN:0885-3924
1873-6513
DOI:10.1016/S0885-3924(99)00134-7