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ARTICLES: Madhumita Sinha, Norman C. Christopher, Robin Fenn, and Laurie Reeves Evaluation of Nonpharmacologic Methods of Pain and Anxiety Management for Laceration Repair in the Pediatric Emergency Department Pediatrics 2006; 117: 1162-1168 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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Nonpharmacologic Methods of Pain and Anxiety Management

Avrum L Katcher   (10 May 2006)

Nonpharmacologic Methods of Pain and Anxiety Management 10 May 2006
Avrum L Katcher, retired pediatrician Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Emeritus, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Send letter to journal: Re: Nonpharmacologic Methods of Pain and Anxiety Management stellave{at}earthlink.net Avrum L Katcher	This useful study reminds me of the anesthesiologist with whom I worked at Hunterdon Medical Center, Flemington, NJ, in the late 50s and 60s of the last century. Mike Colella was a thoughtful fellow who favored such standbys as open drop ether and other long-since discarded methods of anesthesia. He pointed out to me, when I was in the OR, such as for a Section, that relief of anxiety went a long way to reduce the amount of drug required for anesthesia. He would croon, talk, kid, and inform the mother, and when patient was a child, much the same, at the child's level. For young children and infants, he stroked, sang, hummed and did whatever else might be soothing. It worked. Collaboration was needed from the surgeon, not to be abrupt, handle the patient and tissues gently, and so forth. But Mike showed me how, if patient were kept calm, he could often go along with almost no anesthesia and they were content. If once patient became upset, then nothing further could be accomplished by that route and full anesthesia was required. Conflict of Interest: None declared