Nonopioid analgesic usage among pediatric anesthesiologists: A Survey of Society for Pediatric Anesthesia Members

Children and the Opioid Crisis: We Can Make a Difference

The use of opioid-sparing and opioid-free strategies in children can provide adequate analgesia while decreasing the risk of adverse events and contributing to the ongoing battle against the opioid crisis. However, every child must be evaluated individually so that a safe and efficacious perioperative pain management plan can be created. A working knowledge of the risks and benefits of opioids, nonopioid adjuncts, and regional anesthesia along with the ethical considerations for balancing stewardship and beneficent care is essential to the success of these strategies. As perioperative practitioners caring for children, we have an obligation to consider opioid-sparing and opioid-free strategies to promote overall best outcomes. We can make a difference, one child at a time.

Perioperative Indications for Gabapentinoids in Pediatrics: A Narrative Review

In recent years, there has been increased interest in using gabapentinoids (gabapentin and pregabalin) as part of multimodal medication plans or enhanced recovery after surgery protocols to mitigate several perioperative clinical challenges. Outcomes explored in the context of using gabapentinoids perioperatively in children are variable and include acute complications of pain, anxiety, nausea and vomiting, and emergence agitation, as well as the long-term postoperative outcome of chronic postsurgical pain. This narrative review describes the current literature regarding perioperative use of gabapentinoids in pediatric patients and aims to describe the role of gabapentinoids in the perioperative setting for each specific indication.