Pain in children, management in the ED

• Pain in children can be difficult to assess (for example the child may not appear distressed or have difficulty describing / admitting to pain). This can lead to pain being under-recognised, under-treated and treatment being delayed. Drug choice and dosage may also cause problems in those not used to treating children due to unfamiliarity.

• Pain assessment should be repeated frequently to ensure adequate response to any intervention.
• In the Emergency Department of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, it is the experience of the Triage Nurse that is used to gauge the severity of a child’s pain, based on their observation and feedback from parents.

For example:

* Example of injury is only intended as a guide – cases should be assessed on an individual basis

If child is being admitted and is likely to need ongoing analgesia for moderate / severe pain, consider contacting pain relief nurse specialist (page 8133/ ext. 86920) or duty anaesthetist (page 8602).

• Psychological strategies: involving parents, cuddles, child-friendly environment, and explanation with reassurance all help build trust. Also, distraction with toys, blowing bubbles, reading, portable DVD players or story-telling can help to alleviate pain.
• Non-pharmacological adjuncts such as limb immobilisation for fractures and dressings for burns.

- to be used in conjunction with Emergency Department Pain Management guideline

Indications:

To be included as part of the first-line treatment of severe pain in a child (without IV access). 
For example, in children with pain secondary to:
 - Clinically suspected limb fractures
 - Painful/distressing burns

Contraindications:

• Need for immediate IV access (use parenteral morphine)
• Significant nasal trauma
• Blocked nose or upper respiratory tract infection
• Age < 1 year (or weight < 10kg)
• General contraindications/sensitivity to fentanyl or other opioid use
• Significant head injury
• MAOI anti-depressant within 14 days

Adverse Effects:

• Adverse effects are uncommon, but may include:
• Respiratory depression
• Hypotension
• Nausea and vomiting
• Itch
• Chest wall rigidity (only reported in rapid large IV doses)

Protocol:

1. Weigh the child in kg, attach monitor for continuous O2 saturations
2. Draw up calculated dose of Fentanyl according to weight
3. Attach atomiser (MAD device WolfeTory ®) to the 1ml syringe (if total calculated dose over 1ml then draw up additional dose volume in another 1ml syringe)
4. Position patient either sitting up at 45° or with head to one side
5. Administer dose by inserting into nostril loosely and aim for centre of nasal cavity prior to squirting
6. If the dose is > 0.6mL, split dose between both nostrils to prevent loss of solution by sneezing or swallowing.
7. Depress the plunger quickly
8. Hold atomiser in place for further 5 seconds to prevent medication from dribbling out of nostril
9. Don’t forget to give supplementary oral analgesia (if not contra-indicated) and that the child may need ongoing IV analgesia once the initial pain is controlled
10. Continue 02 sats monitoring for at least 1 hour post administration
11. Therapeutic levels are reached within 2 minutes and may last for up to 30 minutes. The dose can be repeated after 30 minutes if adequate analgesia is not achieved after the first dose.

Intranasal FENTANYL guideline for dosing and administration

Dose = approximately 1.5 micrograms/kg (repeat after 30mins if needed)

Preparation: Fentanyl injection 50 micrograms in 1ml (CD) (dilution not required)

Approved by RHC ED Consultant group with approval from RHC Drugs and Therapeutics Committee pending: February 2022