Nonpharmacologic strategies should be used prior to any pharmacologic intervention to reduce pain and anxiety. Sample strategies include, but are not limited, to the following:
Positioning
Massage
Distraction
Music (live or from device)
Technology devices (e.g., video gaming, television, videos, etc.)
Environmental changes
Room temperature
Lighting
Inclusion of family to promote comfort
Story telling
Singing
Soothing touch
Miscellaneous
Bundling (age appropriate)
Non-nutritive suck (age appropriate)
Application/removal of blankets
Application/removal of warm/cool packs
Active and passive range of motion
Topical analgesia
Indications
Minor procedures
Intravenous catheter placement (peripheral or central)
Arterial line catheter placement
Lumbar puncture
Phlebotomy
Types available
Lidocaine and prilocaine
Apply to intact skin with occlusive dressing
Remains on skin 20 to 60 min prior to procedure depending on formulation
Buffered lidocaine
Needle-free pressurized delivery system into the subcutaneous tissue
Allow 2 minutes for maximum anesthesia
1 mL bicarbonate/9 mL 1% lidocaine
Intradermal lidocaine
Needle injection
Maximum dose of lidocaine
4.5 mg/kg without epinephrine
7 mg/kg with epinephrine
Nonopioid analgesia
Indications
Reduce pain
Minor procedures
Facilitate medical therapies
Sedation and analgesia
Indications
Reduce anxiety and pain
Procedures
Facilitate medical therapies
Airway control
Decrease the work of breathing
Decrease oxygen demand
Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs)
Important notes
ALWAYS ensure ability to bag-mask ventilate the patient prior to administration of NMBA
ALWAYS be prepared to manage the airway of a patient receiving NMBA
NEVER administer NMBA to a patient without assuring adequate sedation/analgesia beforehand
Ensure routine monitoring of depth of muscle blockade to reduce subsequent weakness and use minimum effective dose
Indications
Facilitate procedures
Surgical relaxation
Endotracheal intubation
Vascular access
Facilitate medical therapies
Decrease O2 consumption
Prevent shivering (hypothermia)
Reduce metabolic expenditure
Limit mechanical ventilator dyssynchrony
Unconventional modes of ventilation
Transport of patient
Medications (See Tables 15-1–15-6)
Monitoring sedation level
Tools
No adequate scales to measure sedation in children receiving NMBA
State Behavioral Scale (SBS)
Uses progressive stimuli to evaluate level of sedation
Use in critically ill infants and children ages 6 months to 6 years
Comfort Scale
Measures postoperative pain, nonpain distress, sedation, and analgesia
No pediatric age restriction
Titration
Evidence supports nurse-led sedation algorithms are safe
Use minimum effective dose to reduce prolonged sedation
Monitoring for withdrawal syndrome
During the process of weaning from sedation and analgesia, it is important to monitor for signs of withdrawal.
Variables associated with risk of withdrawal syndrome
Duration of medication therapy
Maximum cumulative dose of medications
Type of opioid (fentanyl and remifentanil associated with more withdrawal than morphine)
Type of sedative
Younger age associated with increased risk of withdrawal syndrome
Tools
Withdrawal Assessment Tool (WAT-1)
Sophia Observation withdrawal Symptoms-scale (SOS)
Strategies for weaning
May transition to alternative medications
May use enteral forms of currently administered medications if available
Ensure monitoring and adequate treatment of intolerable symptoms
Taper one medication class at a time
Taper parenteral narcotic off over 3 days (decrease by 10% every 8 hours)
Then taper sedative off over 5 days (decrease by 20% daily)
Alternate taper (e.g., narcotic taper every Monday and sedation taper every Friday)
Select a wean plan and evaluate patient tolerance of wean; adjust as needed
Medications (see Table 15-7)
Nonopioid Pain Control
Medication | Dose | Mechanism |
Acetaminophen | IV: Infants to <2 yr: 7.5 mg/kg/dose IV q6 hr; max of 60 mg/kg/day Adolescents 2–12 yr <50 kg: 15 mg/kg/dose IV q6 hr; max of 75 mg/kg/day (max 3750 mg/day) ≥50 kg 1000 mg IV q6 hr PO: 10–15 mg/kg/dose every 4–6 hr as needed; do not exceed 5 doses in 24 hr; maximum: 75 mg/kg/day Rectal: Infants and children <12 yr: 10–20 mg/kg/dose every 4–6 hr | Inhibits the synthesis of prostaglandins in the central nervous system and works peripherally to block pain impulse generation; produces antipyresis from inhibition of hypothalamic heat-regulating center |
Ibuprofen | PO: Infants and children <50 kg: limited data available Infants <6 mo: 4–10 mg/kg/dose every 6–8 hr; max daily dose: 40 mg/kg/day ≥12 yr and adolescents: 200 mg every 4–6 hr as needed; if pain does not respond, may increase to 400 mg; maximum daily dose: 1200 mg/day | Reversibly inhibits cyclooxygenase-1 and 2 (COX-1 and 2) enzymes, which results in decreased formation of prostaglandin precursors; has antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties |
Ketoralac | IV: <2 yr: limited data available Multiple-dose treatment: IV: 0.5 mg/kg every 6–8 hr, not to exceed 48–72 hr 2–16 years or adolescents >16 yr <50 kg: 0.5 mg/kg every 6 hr; maximum dose: 30 mg/dose, usual reported duration: 48–72 hr; not to exceed 5 days of treatment | |
Naproxen | PO:
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Lidocaine | Local injectable dose varies with procedure, degree of anesthesia needed, vascularity of tissue, duration of anesthesia required, and physical condition of patient. Maximum dose: 5 mg/kg/dose | Blocks both the initiation and conduction of nerve impulses by decreasing the neuronal membrane’s permeability to sodium ions. |
Lidocaine and epinephrine | Local infiltration dosage varies with the anesthetic procedure, but should not exceed 7 mg/kg/dose | Lidocaine: Blocks both the initiation and conduction of nerve impulses by decreasing the neuronal membrane’s permeability to sodium ions. Epinephrine: Increases the duration of action of lidocaine by causing vasoconstriction, slowing the vascular absorption of lidocaine. |
Analgesic Agents for Pain Management or Sedation Adjunct
Medication | Dosing | Onset and Duration | Comments |
Fentanyl |
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Hydromorphone |
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Ketamine |
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Morphine |
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