Postoperative pain in small-for-gestational age infants after hernia repair, orchidopexy and urethral reconstruction surgery: A pilot study
Schüssler SC, Kußmann F, Fahlbusch FB, Münster T, Hirsch K, Carbon R, Albrecht S, Dötsch J, Rascher W (2019)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2019
Journal
Book Volume: 136
Pages Range: 39-44
DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2019.07.003
Abstract
Background: Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth bears an enhanced risk of developing hypertension, obesity, insulin resistance and mental health disorders in later life as a consequence of adaptive processes in utero. Only a small number of studies on pain perception in SGA infants exist. These are indicative of a blunted stress response to pain in SGA newborns. Aim: We initiated a pilot study investigating differences in postoperative pain perception between SGA and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants. Methods: Pain and alertness levels of 10 formerly SGA and 14 AGA infants at the age 0.5–2 years were evaluated by the FLACC scale, Steward and Aldrete Scores following hernia repair, reconstructive surgery of hypospadia and orchidopexy. In addition, the postoperative consumption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was compared between SGA and AGA. Results: Postoperative pain and alertness levels were not significantly different in SGA and AGA children. We did not observe significant group differences regarding the consumption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Conclusion: While previous studies were suggestive of a suppressed stress response to pain in SGA newborns, these findings did not fully translate into an altered response to pain beyond the newborn age. Further studies in a larger cohort seem necessary to verify this finding.
Authors with CRIS profile
Tino Münster
Department of Anaesthesiology
Wolfgang Rascher
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Involved external institutions
Germany (DE)How to cite
APA:
Schüssler, S.C., Kußmann, F., Fahlbusch, F.B., Münster, T., Hirsch, K., Carbon, R.,... Rascher, W. (2019). Postoperative pain in small-for-gestational age infants after hernia repair, orchidopexy and urethral reconstruction surgery: A pilot study. Early Human Development, 136, 39-44. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2019.07.003
MLA:
Schüssler, Stephanie C., et al. "Postoperative pain in small-for-gestational age infants after hernia repair, orchidopexy and urethral reconstruction surgery: A pilot study." Early Human Development 136 (2019): 39-44.
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