Perception of Pain in the Catheter Angiography Laboratory Among Children with Congenital Heart Disease

OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the level of pain caused by routine procedures during cardiac catheterization and explore ways to enhance patient comfort during the procedure based on the findings.


METHOD
The study involved 24 pediatric patients with congenital heart disease who underwent cardiac catheterization at our center. Pain perception was assessed using skin conductance activity, a non-invasive and sensitive method, at four time points: before the procedure with maternal presence (T0), during local anesthesia following general anesthesia (T1), during femoral vascular intervention (T2), and after the procedure with maternal presence (T3).


RESULTS
Significant differences in pain levels were observed at T0, T1, and T2. While no significant correlation was found between midazolam dosage and pain perception, a statistically significant association was identified between ketamine dosage and pain levels at T3, when the mother was present after the cardiac catheterization.


CONCLUSION
Effective sedation planning requires a clear understanding of the degree of pain children experience during procedures. This study showed that, despite the use of local anesthetic and procedural sedation, discomfort may still occur. These findings highlight the need for improved pain management strategies to enhance patient comfort during cardiac catheterization.