Year: 2011
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Pain affects almost everyone at some point in his or her life. A definition drawn up\nby the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has it that pain is always\nsubjective This would seem to imply that the way in which pain is perceived varies\nfrom person to person and may also be influenced by the setting and previous experiences.\nThe same definition states that “inability to communicate verbally does\nnot negate the possibility that an individual is experiencing pain and is in need of\nappropriate pain-relieving treatment”. This truth has a bearing on neonates and\nchildren with profound cognitive impairment, who are not able to verbally express\ntheir pain, anxiety or other sources of distress. Therefore caregivers in the hospital\nsetting need to find other ways to recognize pain. Early recognition is important\nbecause pain requires prompt and adequate treatment, also to prevent possible\nlong-term sequelae. Stress hormone levels have been studied in premature neonates\nwho underwent surgery without perioperative analgesia; levels of cortisol,\naldosterone, and other corticosteroids were markedly increased, signifying\nhigh stress. In the intensive care unit (ICU) setting, stress and agitation resulting\nfrom pain and anxiety can lead children to accidentally remove medical devices\nendangering the child’s safety.\nPain (and therefore stress) is a common condition on the ICU. Previous studies\nhave shown that children in the ICU setting daily undergo many painful procedures,\nincluding IV canula insertion or removal, suctioning and heelstick. What’s more, a\n2008 survey showed that 80% of these procedures are performed without analgesics.
Author: Ilse Ceelie
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: European Commission
OpenAlex ID: W1536402383