Managing procedural pain in pediatric patients.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review recent research on the management of acute procedural pain in pediatric patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

Pediatric patients experience pain with the same or greater intensity as their adult counterparts. Recent studies have acknowledged the importance of people's beliefs about pain and of a multidisciplinary approach to the assessment and treatment of acute pain.

SUMMARY

Pediatric patients experience pain from procedures related to their care. Pediatricians should educate themselves regarding the accurate assessment of pain, and the pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic methods of managing acute pain.