Patient-controlled analgesia in children.

The use of patient-controlled analgesia is described for forty children who had undergone major orthopaedic or general surgery. Ages ranged from 6 to 18 years (mean 11.4 years) and PCA was used for an average of 46.2 hours postoperatively. Morphine requirements overall averaged 40.5 micrograms/kg/hr (SD 22.6). Requirements for the first six hours were not significantly different to a similar period 24 hours later. There was a large individual variation for patients undergoing similar procedures. Patients undergoing scoliosis surgery required significantly more morphine than any other group of patients. Problems with patient-controlled analgesia have been of a minor nature. We conclude that patient-controlled analgesia is a suitable and safe method of pain relief for paediatric patients and that the lower age limit is that at which a child can understand the concept after suitable explanation. In this study children as young as six years were able to successfully use the method.