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Review
. 2022 Mar 12;3(2):e12664.
doi: 10.1002/emp2.12664. eCollection 2022 Apr.

Managing acute pain in children presenting to the emergency department without opioids

Corrie E Chumpitazi  1 , Cindy Chang  2 , Zaza Atanelov  3 , Ann M Dietrich  4 , Samuel Hiu-Fung Lam  5 , Emily Rose  6 , Tim Ruttan  7 , Sam Shahid  8 , Michael J Stoner  9 , Carmen Sulton  10 , Mohsen Saidinejad  11 ; ACEP Pediatric Emergency Medicine Committee
Affiliations
Review

Managing acute pain in children presenting to the emergency department without opioids

Corrie E Chumpitazi et al. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open. .

Abstract

Pediatric pain is challenging to assess and manage. Frequently underestimated in children, untreated pain may have consequences including increased fear, anxiety, and psychological issues. With the current opioid crisis, emergency physicians must be knowledgeable in both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches to address pain and anxiety in children that lead to enhanced patient cooperation and family satisfaction. This document focuses pain management and distress mitigation strategies for the brief diagnostic and therapeutic procedures commonly performed.

Keywords: analgesia; emergency department; non‐pharmacologic; pain management; pediatrics; policy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
The stop‐light pain scale. With permission © 2014 Booster Shot Media, Inc. and Amy L Drendel, DO www.StoplightPainScale.com
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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