[Reduction of pain perception of chronically ill children by intermittent infusion therapy]

Abstract

Chronically ill children who require life-long i.v. infusions in regular intervals (i.e. Agammaglobulinemia, HIV-infection) can be traumatized by such painful procedures. Some children gradually accept such infusions, whereas other children become sensitized and react with increasing fear and resistance. We report on our experience with a combined method of local anaesthesia and active role-plays enacting the i.v. infusion on a puppet. In more than 230 applications (approximately 11 per child) in our outpatient clinic, 19/20 children reported significantly less pain sensations after the 2nd or 3rd application. The children learned to handle actively the threatening situation. The method of local anaesthesia with Lidocaine/Prilocaine and role playing is suitable to relieve pain and reduces distress of such invasive events as regular i.v. infusions are.