Even with the use of topical anesthetics such as EMLA cream, paediatric cancer patients continue to experience pain and anxiety during clinical procedures. Preventing stress in this patient population is essential, given recurrent procedures and the potential for significant distress if anxiety is not well-managed. Recent research has shown that simple, developmentally appropriate techniques, such as distraction, pet therapy, and play therapy, can lessen pain in children by diverting the child’s focus from potentially painful procedures such as PORT access or dressing changes. Despite a variety of non-pharmacological interventions, in-clinic procedures remain a significant source of stress and trauma for a portion of children. In these cases, pharmacologic interventions may be considered. This workshop will also review currently available pharmacological interventions and provide practical guidance in the selection and use of appropriate pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies to decrease anxiety and pain for minor procedures.
Presentation Slides
Speakers
Amanda Gaudet, RN,
Satellite Nurse Coordinator,
Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital
Amanda Gaudet has over fifteen years experience in the nursing field in areas such as med-surgical medicine, wound care, home care and pediatrics. Amanda was a pediatric inpatient nurse at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital before transitioning to her new role as nurse coordinator of the POGO Pediatric Oncology Satellite Program at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital. In addition, she partners with pediatricians and The Hospital for Sick Children to cover complex care children in an outpatient setting such as Botox with sedation for CP children, sedated MRIs, post-organ transplant monitoring and blood work for children with difficult pokes or fear of needles. Since taking on her new role, Amanda has become very dedicated to researching and implementing new techniques to help her patients’ experiences with painful pokes and needle anxiety.
Deepa Kattail, MD, MHS, FAAP,
Assistant Professor,
Anesthesiology,
McMaster University
Pediatric Anesthesiology and Pediatric Pain Physician,
McMaster Children’s Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences
Dr. Deepa Kattail is board certified in anesthesiology and pediatric anesthesiology by the American Board of Anesthesiology and is a subspecialty fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She received her medical degree from Kasturba Medical College, India. Her post-graduate clinical training included a surgical internship in Detroit, Michigan, followed by an anesthesia residency at Rush Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Kattail then completed a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. From 2013-2017, she was a staff physician at Johns Hopkins in the Division of Pediatric Anesthesia and Pediatric Pain. She was awarded a master’s degree in health science in the Graduate Training Program in Clinical Investigation at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health in 2017. She is also actively involved in the Society of Pediatric Pain Medicine and is currently chair of the communications committee. Currently, she is a staff physician at McMaster Children’s Hospital and divides her time between pediatric anesthesiology, the pediatric chronic pain program and academic and research activities at McMaster University. Her research interests are focused on clinical aspects of pediatric pain.