ObjectiveThis study assessed pain and observed physiological parameters in sedated and
mechanically ventilated children during a routine procedure.MethodsThis observational study was performed in a pediatric intensive care unit.
Thirty-five children between 1 month and 12 years of age were assessed
before, during, and five minutes after an arterial blood collection for gas
analysis (painful procedure). Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability
scale was used to assess pain. In addition, patients' heart rate,
respiratory rate, peripheral saturation of oxygen and blood pressure
(diastolic and systolic) were recorded. COMFORT-B scale was applied before
the pain and physiological parameter assessments to verify sedation level of
the subjects.ResultsThere was an increase in Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability score (p
= 0.0001) during painful stimuli. There was an increase in heart rate (p =
0.03), respiratory rate (p = 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.006)
due to pain caused by the routine procedure.ConclusionsThis study suggests that assessments of pain using standard scales, such as
Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability score, and other physiological
parameters should be consistently executed to optimize pain management in
pediatric intensive care units.