Abstract
AIM: The analgesia provided for children is often less than for adults with the same underlying pathology. This paper attempts to quantify the postoperative analgesic requirements of patients undergoing appendicectomy. METHODS: Patients between 6 and 30 years of age who underwent an unscheduled appendicectomy were prospectively recruited. Regular non-opiate analgesia, calculated according to weight, was administered. Hourly visual analogue pain scores and morphine patient controlled analgesia (mPCA) usage were recorded for 24 h following surgery. RESULTS: 19 children (6-16 years) and 23 adults (17-30 years) were recruited. There was no significant difference in the pain scores following appendicectomy between the two groups. Significantly more mPCA was demanded (t = 2.02, P < 0.02) and morphine received (t = 2.02, P < 0.005) by adults than children following appendicectomy. CONCLUSION: Children appear to require and do demand less analgesia than adults following appendicectomy to maintain similar postoperative pain scores. Acceptable pain scores may be achieved by the administration of regular analgesia to these patients.
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