Escala LLANTO: instrumento español de medición del dolor agudo en la edad preescolar / “LLANTO” scale: Spanish tool for measuring acute pain in preschool children

Este estudio fue diseñado para validar en 54 niños españoles, de 1 mes a 6 años de edad, una nueva escala de valoración de dolor agudo, la escala LLANTO, comparando sus puntuaciones con las obtenidas con la escala CHEOPS. LLANTO es el acrónimo de cinco parámetros conductuales o fisiológicos que previamente han sido relacionadas con el dolor agudo en niños (llanto, actitud, normorrespiración, tono postural y observación facial). La escala LLANTO fue estudiada en su validez y su reproducibilidad. Se estudió el comportamiento de los niños en la Unidad de Recuperación Post Anestésica (URPA) inmediatamente antes y después de la administración del pertinente tratamiento analgésico. Tres observadores (un médico experimentado, un residente en formación y una enfermera) valoraron con las dos escalas la conducta de los niños simultáneamente pero de modo independiente uno del otro. La escala LLANTO presentó una correlación aceptable entre los distintos observadores (0,809, 0,686 y 0,908; p<0,0001). La escala LLANTO presentó una adecuada validez discriminante (p<0,002) diferenciando las dos situaciones de pre y postadministración de analgesia. Ambas escalas mostraron un alto nivel de correlación (0,804; p<0,0001) evidenciando la adecuada validez convergente de la escala LLANTO. El análisis k de concordancia demostró un nivel perfecto de coincidencia entre la escala LLANTO y la escala CHEOPS que se correspondió con unas adecuadas sensibilidad (96%) y especificidad (87%). En base a estos hallazgos, podemos recomendar la escala LLANTO como un instrumento válido, reproducible y práctico de medición del dolor agudo en los niños preescolares en entorno hispanoparlante (AU)

This study was designed to validate a new paediatric acute pain scale, LLANTO, comparing its scores with those obtained from the CHEOPS scale in 54 Spanish children aged 1 month-6 years. LLANTO is an acronym of five behavioural or physiological variables previously shown to be associated with pain in children (crying, attitude, respiratory pattern, muscle tone and facial expression). The LLANTO pain scale was tested for validity and inter-rater reliability. The children's behaviour was observed after surgery, before and after analgesics administration in the post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU). Three observers (an experienced physician, a resident in training and a nurse) then simultaneously rated pain behaviour in a blinded way with both scales. LLANTO scale had an acceptable inter-rater correlation (0.809, 0.686 and 0.908, P<0.0001). Construct validity was determined by the ability to differentiate the group with a high pain level before analgesia and after analgesia (P<0.002). The positive correlation between both scales (r=0.804, P<0.0001) supported concurrent validity. Use of the ê statistic indicated that LLANTO scale yielded a perfect agreement with the CHEOPS scale, with an appropriate sensitivity and specificity (96% and 87% respectively). On the basis of data from this study, we recommend LLANTO as a valid, reliable and practical tool for Spanish speakers (AU)

[LLANTO scale: Spanish tool for measuring acute pain in preschool children]. / Escala LLANTO: instrumento español de medición del dolor agudo en la edad preescolar.

This study was designed to validate a new paediatric acute pain scale, LLANTO, comparing its scores with those obtained from the CHEOPS scale in 54 Spanish children aged 1 month-6 years. LLANTO is an acronym of five behavioural or physiological variables previously shown to be associated with pain in children (crying, attitude, respiratory pattern, muscle tone and facial expression). The LLANTO pain scale was tested for validity and inter-rater reliability. The children's behaviour was observed after surgery, before and after analgesics administration in the post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU). Three observers (an experienced physician, a resident in training and a nurse) then simultaneously rated pain behaviour in a blinded way with both scales. LLANTO scale had an acceptable inter-rater correlation (0.809, 0.686 and 0.908, P<0.0001). Construct validity was determined by the ability to differentiate the group with a high pain level before analgesia and after analgesia (P<0.002). The positive correlation between both scales (r=0.804, P<0.0001) supported concurrent validity. Use of the κ statistic indicated that LLANTO scale yielded a perfect agreement with the CHEOPS scale, with an appropriate sensitivity and specificity (96% and 87% respectively). On the basis of data from this study, we recommend LLANTO as a valid, reliable and practical tool for Spanish speakers.