Pain management of the pediatric patient.

Recent evidence has documented the deleterious physiologic effects of pain. The treatment of pain in children may be guided by a step-wise approach depending on its severity (Table 2). Mild pain can generally be controlled with a NSAID, such as ibuprofen, whereas moderate pain may require the addition of an orally active narcotic. Several approaches may be taken for the treatment of severe pain, including regional anesthetic techniques or the use of PCA to deliver intravenous narcotics. When such techniques fail, consultation with specialists in the field of pediatric pain management may be helpful.