Propofol or propofol--alfentanil anesthesia for painful procedures in the pediatric oncology ward.
BACKGROUND
For children with cancer receiving curative treatment, the pain of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures is often worse than that of the disease itself. In order to evaluate if light propofol anesthesia in the pediatric oncology ward (POW) could improve the management of procedure pain and anxiety, a questionnaire was developed.


METHODS
After prolonged EMLA application, 65 propofol anesthetics were performed successfully in 28 children during lumbar puncture and/or bone marrow aspiration in the POW, with short recovery time and without major adverse events. The questionnaire was mailed to the parents of the 28 children who were included in the survey.


RESULTS
The return of questionnaire compliance was 89% (25 of 28), 12 females and 13 males, mean age was 7 years (range 2-16). Among those who replied, the diagnoses were acute lymphatic leukemia in 21, lymphoma in two and tumor in the other two. In the questionnaire, all parents/patients reported advantages with anesthesia in the POW compared with the operating room. In the list of stated advantages, 88% marked 'familiar nurses and doctors', 84% 'familiar environment', 80% 'closer to own room', 68% 'the child more calm', 72% 'shorter waiting-time', 60% 'faster recovery', 44% 'shorter fasting-time' and 44% 'parents more calm', as benefits. For future procedures requiring anesthesia to reduce pain, discomfort and/or anxiety, 92% of the parents/patients preferred anesthesia in the POW.


CONCLUSIONS
If anesthesia is chosen for invasive procedures, this study suggest that propofol anesthesia in the POW is preferred by parents and children.
Paediatric Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain treatment, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. margareta.vonheijne@ks.se
Margareta
M
Von Heijne
Britt
B
Bredlöv
Stefan
S
Söderhäll
Gunnar L
GL
Olsson
D000293:Adolescent; D015760:Alfentanil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D001856:Bone Marrow Examination / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015742:Propofol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden
D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D015760:Alfentanil; D015742:Propofol