RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and the incidence of complication in pediatric patients for laparotomy receiving continuous fentanyl infusion for postoperative pain. METHODS: We treated 21 children, including 9 male and 12 female, aged 1-4 years old with the median age 2.0 +/- 1.0 years. They received postoperative intravenous fentanyl infusion 1 microg +/- kg(-1) x hr(-1) for about 50 hrs. We assessed the level of pain by Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario pain scale (CHEOPS), and evaluated the additional medication of analgetics and the adverse events such as vomiting, the decrease of respiratory rate or Sp(O2) depression defined as the need for supplemental oxygen to maintain Sp(O2) > 95% and sedation by visiting the patients twice par day. RESULTS: Adequate analgesia occurred in over 90% of patients with the average CHEOPS score of 6.4 +/- 0.2 points. The incidences of vomiting and deep sedation were 14.3% and 19.0%, respectively, but there was no incidence of desaturations and decrease of respiratory rate, and we have no need to ensure emergency airway patency. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous fentanyl infusion for postoperative pain in pediatric patients after laparotomy is an effective and safe procedure with a few complications.