Opiate analgesics and testing of post traumatic amnesia in school-aged children. (6th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Parry, Louise; Brookes, Naomi; Epps, Adrienne; Lah, Suncica
• Is Part Of: Brain injury. Volume 34:Number 7(2020)
• Page Start: 914
• Page End: 920
• Publication Date: 2020-06-06
• Subjects: PTA assessment -- traumatic brain injury -- pediatric; Brain damage -- Periodicals; Brain -- Wounds and injuries -- Periodicals; Brain Injuries -- Periodicals; 617.481
• DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2020.1763460
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-9052

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objective: To assess the validity of the Westmead PTA scale in school-aged children treated with opiate analgesics. Method: Twenty-eight hospitalized children without brain injury, aged between 8 and 16 years treated with opiate analgesics for pain relief following surgery were tested on the Westmead PTA scale. Pain and stress levels were also self-reported each day. Results: Only 29% (n = 7) of children assessed over four days obtained a maximum score of 12/12 on three consecutive days, thus 71% would have been deemed to have been in PTA when they were not. The percentage of children who obtained a maximum score significantly decreased over consecutive days of assessment, due to an increase in error rate on picture memory items. Self-reported pain and stress ratings were not correlated with PTA scores. Conclusions: Opiate analgesia can disrupt performance on the Westmead PTA scale in school-aged children resulting in a high false-positive error rate. It is therefore important to record pain medication schedules and interpret results cautiously when opiate analgesia is used following a TBI. Alteration of the method of administration of the memory items should be researched as this may increase the validity of the scale for children with TBI treated with opiate analgesics.