Methods of postoperative pain assessment in children

Pain is needed especially to save and protect human organism from danger and then is a supporter of human. Unfortunately very often pain leads
to unnecessary suffering. In order to avoid it pain must be effectively relieved Effective management of pain should start with adequate assessment
of it. Pain amongst children can be assessed by using physiologic parameters, changes in behavior and self report. Previous articles present that pain
in children is under assessed and poorly documented what results in insufficient treatment by too low doses of analgesics.

Article presents/describes available methods used in assessment of postoperative pain in children that is: self report scales (Wong and Baker FACES
pain scale, faces pain scale revised, visual- analog scale, numerical rating scale). Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) , CRIES (Cry, Requires increased
oxygen administration, Increased vital signs, Expression, Sleepless), COMFORT scale and FLACC (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability).

Parents can use The parents’ postoperative pain measure – PPPM. Scales used for assessing pain amongst children with cognitive impairment are:
Noncomunicating Children’s Pain Checklist Postoperative Version (NCPC-PV), Individualized Numerical Rating Pain Scale (INRS) and revised FLACC.

Nursing Topics 2011; 19 (1): 122–129