Analgesic use and favourable patient-reported outcome measures after paediatric surgery: an analysis of registry data

Postoperative Pain Management in children: guidance from the Pain Committee of the European Society for Paediatric Anaesthesiology (ESPA Pain Management Ladder Initiative) Part II

The ESPA Pain Management Ladder Initiative is a clinical practice advisory based upon expert consensus supported by the current literature to help ensure a basic standard of perioperative pain management for all children. In 2018 the perioperative pain management of six common pediatric surgical procedures was summarised. The current Pain Management Ladder recommendations focus on five more complex pediatric surgical procedures and suggest basic, intermediate, and advanced pain management methods. The aim of this paper is to encourage best possible pain management practice and to support institutions to create their own pain management concepts according to their financial and human resources due to the diversity of clinical settings in Europe. Furthermore, the authors underline that these recommendations are intended for inpatients only.

The potentiating effect of intravenous dexamethasone upon preemptive pudendal block analgesia for hypospadias surgery in children managed with Snodgrass technique: a randomized controlled study : Dexamethasone for pain management in children

INTRODUCTION

Evidence regarding the potentiating effects of intravenous dexamethasone on peripheral regional anesthesia in children is sparse. The objective of the current study was to investigate the potentiating effect of intravenous dexamethasone upon pudendal block during surgical correction of hypospadias using Snodgrass technique.

METHODS

The study consisted of a monocentric, randomized controlled, double-blinded study. Patients were randomized to receive either intravenous dexamethasone 0.15 mg.kg- 1 (D group) or a control solution (C group). Both groups received standardized anesthesia including a preemptive pudendal block performed after the induction of anesthesia. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients needing rescue analgesia. Secondary outcomes were other pain outcomes over the first 24 postoperative hours.

RESULTS

Overall, 70 patients were included in the study. Age were 24 [24; 36] and 26 [24; 38] months in the D and C groups, respectively (p = 0.4). Durations of surgery were similar in both groups (60 [30; 60], p = 1). The proportion of patients requiring rescue analgesia was decreased in the D group (23% versus 49%, in D and C groups respectively, p = 0.02). The first administration of rescue analgesia was significantly delayed in the D group. Postoperative pain was improved in the D group between 6 and 24 h after surgery. Opioid requirements and the incidence of vomiting did not significantly differ between groups.

CONCLUSION

Associating intravenous dexamethasone (0.15 mg.kg- 1) to pudendal block during hypospadias surgery improves pain control over the first postoperative day. Further studies are needed in order to confirm these results.

CLINICALTRIALS

GOV IDENTIFIER

NCT03902249. A.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN

dexamethasone has been found to potentiate analgesia obtained with regional anesthesia in children. B. WHAT THIS ARTICLE ADDS: intravenous dexamethasone was found to improve analgesia with a preemptive pudendal block during hypospadias surgery. C. IMPLICATIONS FOR TRANSLATION: results of this study indicate that intravenous dexamethasone could be used as an adjunct to pudendal block.