A prospective observational study on persistent postoperative pediatric pain, 4P: The study protocol

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 20; no. 1; p. e0316533
• Main Authors: Broman, Johanna, Nielsen, Niklas, Persson, Anna K. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 14.01.2025; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adults; Age; Analgesia; Analgesics; Anestesi och intensivvård; Anesthesiology; Anesthesiology and Intensive Care; Care and treatment; Caregivers; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Children & youth; Clinical Medicine; Evaluation; Female; Gender; Guidelines; Health risks; Humans; Infant; International studies; Klinisk medicin; Male; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Medicine and Health Sciences; Observational studies; Observational Studies as Topic; Orthopedics; Pain; Pain in children; Pain management; Pain Management - methods; Pain Measurement; Pain perception; Pain, Postoperative; Pain, Postoperative - epidemiology; Patients; Pediatrics; Pediatrik; People and places; Practice guidelines (Medicine); Prospective Studies; Questionnaires; Risk factors; Statistics; Study Protocol; Surgery; Sweden - epidemiology; Sweden
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0316533

Access to adequate pain treatment is a fundamental right, yet international data suggest that a considerable number of children experience acute and persistent pain. Little is known about the occurrence of both acute and persistent pain in children. The incidence of persistent postoperative pain in children is an unexplored area but international studies suggest that many children experience long-term pain after surgery, with a major impact on daily life. In 4P, Persistent Postoperative Pediatric Pain, we want to estimate the incidence of acute and persistent postoperative pediatric pain. The European Society for Paediatric Anaesthesiology has developed guidelines for perioperative pain management. We aim to examine how well these guidelines are followed and whether adherence to guidelines influences the pain experienced after surgery. 4P is a prospective observational study of children aged 1-17, planned for surgery in southern Sweden 2023-2024. After agreement from all caregivers, data concerning preoperative pain, pre-emptive analgesia, perioperative management and postoperative pain will be collected. Via an electronic management software, pain will be evaluated at home (or in hospital) at 24h, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. We will include 1000 patients. 4P will prospectively follow a large number of children after general pediatric surgeries and evaluate the occurrence of postoperative pain, both acute (APOP) and persistent (PPOP). The study will assess pain treatment regimens and identify risk factors associated with the development of acute and persistent pediatric postoperative pain. Prospectively posted at ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT06035042.