Pediatrics
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Does lidocaine gel alleviate the pain of bladder catheterization in young children? A randomized, controlled trial.
Bladder catheterization (BC) is a commonly performed, painful procedure in the pediatric emergency department (ED). A survey demonstrated that analgesia is infrequently used for several brief painful procedures, including BC, in pediatric patients. In this study, we evaluated the use of 2% lidocaine gel to alleviate the pain associated with BC in young children (<2 years) in the ED. ⋯ Altering the standard practice of use of nonanesthetic lubricant with 2% lidocaine gel as lubricant during bladder catheterization in young children may not be helpful in alleviating the pain associated with the procedure.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Clown doctors as a treatment for preoperative anxiety in children: a randomized, prospective study.
The induction of anesthesia is one of the most stressful moments for a child who must undergo surgery: it is estimated that 60% of children suffer anxiety in the preoperative period. Preoperative anxiety is characterized by subjective feelings of tension, apprehension, nervousness, and worry. These reactions reflect the child's fear of separation from parents and home environment, as well as of loss of control, unfamiliar routines, surgical instruments, and hospital procedures. High levels of anxiety have been identified as predictors of postoperative troubles that can persist for 6 months after the procedure. Both behavioral and pharmacologic interventions are available to treat preoperative anxiety in children. ⋯ This study shows that the presence of clowns during the induction of anesthesia, together with the child's parents, was an effective intervention for managing children's and parents' anxiety during the preoperative period. We would encourage the promotion of this form of distraction therapy in the treatment of children requiring surgery, but the resistance of medical personnel make it very difficult to insert this program in the activity of the operating room.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Early analgesia for children with acute abdominal pain.
The objectives of this study were to determine whether the administration of morphine to children with acute abdominal pain would impede the diagnosis of appendicitis and to determine the efficacy of morphine in relieving the pain. ⋯ Our data show that morphine effectively reduces the intensity of pain among children with acute abdominal pain and morphine does not seem to impede the diagnosis of appendicitis.