PREVALENCE OF CHRONIC PAIN AMONG CHILDREN OF THE PRECARPATHIAN REGION AFTER APPENDECTOMY: AN RETROSPECTIVE-PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

As one of the leading causes of morbidity in children, chronic pain is a global challenge of public health. From 2004 to 2010, the number of children hospitalized for chronic pain increased by 831 %, particularly due to comorbidities. Over 1.7 million children suffer from moderate and severe pain.
 The study was aimed to determine the prevalence of chronic pain among children 7 to 18 years of age after appendectomies.
 Materials and Methods. One hundred and six children with acute appendicitis, peritonitis, who were treated at the Surgical Department, the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care of CNE «Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital» were observed. In the postoperative period, children were divided into the following groups: Group 1a included children 7 to 12 years of age with acute pain; Group 1b comprised children with acute pain at the age of 13 to 18 years; Group 2a included children 7 to 12 years of age with chronic pain; Group 2b comprised children with chronic pain at the age of 13 to 18 years.
 Results. The prevalence of chronic pain among children of the Precarpathian region was 19.81±0.21 %, with a male predominance. Patients with chronic pain required larger doses of fentanyl, analgin and paracetamol (p<0.05). Children with chronic pain had significantly higher FLACC and VAS scores as compared to children with acute pain (p<0.05). Discussion. The study confirmed the need for additional pain relief in children with chronic pain during the perioperative period without significant changes in pain scale indicators.
 Conclusions. Studying prognostic markers for chronic pain development, understanding the mechanisms of formation and application of modern therapeutic methods (regional analgesia) in managing chronic pain in children will prevent its occurrence, thereby reducing children and adolescents’ suffering.