Survey of pain management therapy provided for children with sickle cell disease.
A questionnaire was sent to principal investigators of NIH-sponsored clinical research in sickle cell disease. Twenty of 21 respondents indicated they used parenteral narcotic analgesics for pain episodes sufficiently severe to warrant hospitalization. Eleven used meperidine; seven, morphine; and one each, nalbuphine, hydromorphone, and acetaminophen with codeine. They gave the agents at frequent, regular intervals or by continuous infusion. A total of 41 of more than 3,500 patients required chronic transfusion for pain control. Complications included meperidine-associated convulsions reported by nine respondents and addiction by six. This information indicates that vigorous pain-control methods are used at institutions having a special interest in providing medical care for children with sickle cell disease.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL 33101.
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Pegelow
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003061:Codeine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D004091:Hydromorphone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D008614:Meperidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009266:Nalbuphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D059408:Pain Management; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced
D000700:Analgesics; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000082:Acetaminophen; D009020:Morphine; D008614:Meperidine; D009266:Nalbuphine; D004091:Hydromorphone; D003061:Codeine