Pain assessment following gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures in the pediatric population: A prospective observational study

Introduction. Gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures are increasingly performed in pediatric populations; however, data on postprocedural pain and its determinants remain limited. Adequate sedation and effective pain management are essential for ensuring patient comfort and optimizing procedural outcomes. This study is aimed to evaluate intensity of postprocedural pain following gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures in children and to identify factors associated with increased pain perception. Material and Methods. This prospective clinical study included pediatric patients undergoing elective endoscopic procedures at the Pediatric Clinic in Novi Sad between May and July 2025. Pain intensity was assesses 30 minutes after the procedure using age-appropriate validated scales: the Numerical Rating Scale for children aged ≥9 years, the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale, and the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability scale for younger children. Patient demographics, procedural characteristics (type and duration), and overall satisfaction were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23. Results. A total of 39 patients were included (16 boys and 23 girls). The most frequently performed procedure was combined esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy (61.5%). The mean pain score was 2.69 (SD = 1.73), ranging from 0 to 6. Female patients reported higher pain scores (mean = 3.08) compared to males (mean = 2.12), with the difference approaching statistical significance (p = 0.086). No statistically significant associations were observed between pain intensity and age, type or duration of the procedure, or prior endoscopic experience. The mean satisfaction score was 4.64 (SD = 0.58), with significantly higher satisfaction reported among younger patients (p = 0.03). Conclusion. Identification of individual risk factors for postprocedural pain may facilitate optimization of sedation protocols and support more patient-centered approach in pediatric endoscopy.