jenny, Author at Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine

Chronic Postsurgical Pain Post Cardiac Surgery

A recent publication from SickKids has published the prevalence of chronic pain in the congenital cardiac population after surgery. Based on surveys sent to patient who had undergone surgery, the prevalence of chronic post -surgical pain was found to be similar to the prevalence seen in all surgeries, approximately 20%. Data on chronic pain in this population is limited, thus this is an interesting finding and an area that can be explored for ways to prevent development of chronic pain.

Read the full letter here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12630-024-02793-3

Question of the Month – August 2024

Emma, a 10-year-old girl, has been experiencing chronic musculoskeletal pain for the past six months. Her parents report that she often has difficulty falling asleep and wakes up frequently throughout the night. Despite trying various bedtime routines, Emma's sleep problems persist, and she frequently complains of feeling tired during the day. Her pediatrician has noted that Emma's pain seems to be worse on days following poor sleep, and her response to pain medication has been inconsistent. Given Emma's chronic pain condition and sleep disturbances, her pediatrician is considering different strategies to help improve her sleep quality and manage her pain more effectively.

Which of the following statements about the relationship between chronic pain and sleep disturbances in children is most accurate?

A) Just as acute pain influences sleep quality, chronic pain is also responsible for chronic sleep disorders in children.

B) Sleep mechanisms may adapt over time in children, hence chronic pain may not always be associated with sleep disturbances.

C) Behavioral interventions to modify sleep patterns have no significant impact on pain perception in children with chronic pain.

D) Deprivation of Rapid Eye Movement sleep does not influence pain perception in children.

E) Over-the-counter melatonin has been shown to be ineffective in regulating circadian rhythm and improving sleep quality in children with chronic pain.

Correct! Wrong!

Question of the Month - August 2024

In-Person Versus Virtual Visits for Chronic Pain, A Systematic Review

Dr. Katie Birnie and team have recently published a review to examine the efficacy of interventions that are delivered in-person versus virtually for youth with chronic pain, a shift that occurred during the pandemic and has persisted in some forms in many chronic pain programs.

Follow the link for the full review, that identified major gaps in our current literature: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/38863459/

Postdural Puncture Headaches in Pediatric Patients: A Review of Options When Repeated Epidural Blood Patches Do Not Work

A fascinating case report authored by several SPPM members – what is the next step for postdural puncture headache when blood patches are ineffective?

Read here to see what was offered to one particular patient:
https://www.cureus.com/articles/245081-postdural-puncture-headaches-in-pediatric-patients-a-review-of-options-when-repeated-epidural-blood-patches-do-not-work#!/