Parents must read Core tips: 1. Postoperative pain is not treated and children suffer repeatedly from pain, which can increase their blood pressure and heart rate, increasing the incidence of postoperative complications and prolonging the recovery period. 2. Analgesic treatment should be given to any child who feels pain after surgery. Analgesic pump is a tool for analgesic treatment. Do children need analgesia after surgery? A 7-year-old child with a fractured lower extremity was wheeled into the operating room for an upcoming surgery, and as a preoperative routine, I had a preoperative anesthesia conversation with the parents. When it came to the need for post-operative analgesia, the parents looked puzzled and asked me after much thought: “Doctor, will the wound be painful after the child’s surgery is over and the anesthesia has worn off? Do I have to use an analgesic pump? Does it have any side effects? If it’s good for the child then you should use it, and we all listen to you.” I smiled when I heard that, “Thank you for your trust in me. Let me introduce you to post-operative analgesia and then you can make a decision.” ”In the past, both doctors and parents thought that children’s nervous system was immature and insensitive to pain perception; others thought that children were incapable of recalling painful experiences when they were young, and besides, even this pain would not have a long-lasting effect on the child’s future behavior and growth and development; therefore, pediatric analgesic treatment had not been given due attention. Furthermore, the general analgesic effect of older analgesics (such as dulcolax), with significant adverse effects and addictive properties, has limited the development of pediatric analgesic techniques. ”And in fact, postoperative pain can certainly be harmful if left untreated. Not to mention that the child suffering from pain will cry, toss and turn, do not eat or drink, parents on the sidelines will also look at the pain in the heart. Pain can trigger a violent endocrine and metabolic response in the child’s body within a short period of time, causing the child’s heart rate to increase, blood pressure to rise, and oxygen consumption to increase. Studies have also found that repeated pain in children can lead to changes in their nociception and the development of chronic pain syndrome. In the long term, the child is likely to grow up with behavioral dysfunction such as poor academic concentration and learning difficulties.” ”In the last 20 years, pediatric postoperative analgesia has evolved relatively quickly. The analgesic pump is a tool for analgesic treatment. Analgesic pumps have evolved from relying solely on mechanical elastomeric infusion to microcomputer chip-controlled intravenous infusion devices that can be adjusted to go at will. This is a more scientific, safer, more effective and more humane approach to administering medication according to the child’s pain level.” ”Doctor, then do all children need analgesia after surgery? Can I use an analgesic pump for this child?” The parents asked. ”Analgesia should be given to any child who feels pain after surgery. However, we take into account the child’s age, surgical operation, anesthesia method and pain level when doing the specific operation. If the child’s condition is severe, develops systemic toxicity, goes into shock or coma, or is allergic to the drug, it is not appropriate to give analgesics. In addition, opioids such as morphine are contraindicated in children under 1 year of age. ”Your child received surgical treatment for a fracture, which required the insertion of steel pins to reset the fracture during surgery, and required a thick cast to be wrapped around the injured leg for immobilization after surgery, and the child will definitely feel uncomfortable when the anesthesia wears off, so he or she can be treated with an analgesic pump after surgery.” ”How can we know if a child is in pain or not after using an analgesic pump?” ”Pain is a subjective feeling. It should be said that the child’s own assessment of pain is the most accurate and authoritative. Some preschoolers have limited expressive skills, so parents may wish to judge by observing the child’s facial expressions, crying and bickering, and body movements. ”Children with inadequate analgesia tend to have tightly closed eyes, crying and quarrelling or moaning sounds from their mouths, short temper, easy anger, fidgety limbs, stiff muscles, and not allowing anyone to touch the wound. As soon as these conditions occur, they should be reported to the doctor and the analgesic treatment plan should be adjusted. ”On the contrary, the following conditions appear after the child has used the analgesic pump, such as no response after shouting for half a day, slowed respiratory rate and decreased blood oxygen saturation, etc., indicating that the analgesic drug may be overdosed, should also be reported to the doctor immediately for timely treatment to prevent accidents.” After my introduction, the parents almost understood what analgesia was all about and agreed to treat their child with an analgesic pump after surgery.