Persistent pain common 1 month after elective pediatric surgery

(HealthDay)—Many pediatric patients have persistent pain after common ambulatory surgeries, according to a study published online Jan. 20 in Pediatric Anesthesia.

Valeria Mossetti, from the Regina Margherita Children's Hospital in Torino, Italy, and colleagues evaluated the prevalence of persistent pain after pediatric ambulatory surgery (elective hypospadias repair, herniorraphy, orchiopexy, and orthopedic surgery) at one, three, and six months as well as risk factors for persistent pain. The 350 patients who completed the study ranged in age from 1 month to 16 years.

The researchers found that 24 percent of the study participants experienced persistent pain at one month, 6 percent at three months, and 4 percent at six months. At all three time points, inguinal herniorraphy patients experienced significantly higher pain (35.6, 14.9, and 9.2 percent, respectively). At six months, there were neuropathic characteristics for the persistent pain, which frequently interfered with daily activities and sleep.

"We recommend questioning at follow-up visit about persistent pain and functional impairment with follow-up until resolution," the authors write.