Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine

Better Care for Children in Pain

Society for Pediatric
Pain Medicine

Better Care for Children in Pain
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Welcome to the Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine (SPPM), a Society organized within the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia. The SPPM concept originated with directors and key leaders of acute and chronic pediatric pain medicine programs, who believed there was a need for a new society because of rapid advancement of highly specialized knowledge in the field, a great increase in the numbers of patients, and strong desire for collaboration and advocacy for infants, children, and adolescents with painful conditions.

Question of the Month – June 2019

Written by:


 Bob Wilder, MD


The Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN




A 15-year-old girl developed an acute viral intestinal illness several months ago with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.  These symptoms resolved in 7 – 10 days, but she has had postprandial right upper quadrant abdominal pain since.  She notes that she also hurts with exercise.  A pediatric gastroenterologist has seen her and has completed a workup consisting of a normal abdominal ultrasound, an EGD that was normal both visually and by pathology.  Disaccharidase levels are normal.  Gastric emptying studies were also normal.  Fructose breath test was normal.  Abdominal radiograph shows “non-obstructive pattern with mild to moderate stool in the colon.” She may have increased pain with bearing down to have a bowel movement, but it returns to baseline thereafter.   On exam the gastroenterologist states she has a “positive Carnett’s sign” in the right upper quadrant. 




What is a Carnett’s sign? 


Archived Questions of the Month

SPPM Response to NPR’s Invisibilia Podcast “The Fifth Vital Sign”

The Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine is a professional organization dedicated to providing better care for children in pain, through clinical care, education, research and advocacy. We listened with interest to the NPR Invisibilia podcast “The Fifth Vital Sign”.  We are encouraged to see that pediatric pain is receiving long overdue acknowledgement and attention.  Your podcast has the power to influence the lives of millions as is evident from the response it has generated.  When dealing with medical and health information it is imperative to represent the information in an accurate and objective manner backed by scientific facts. Personal interpretations and sensationalism run the risk of creating fear, alarm and unintended harm to the listeners.  MORE

SPPM Education and Research Fund

The Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine has developed the SPPM Education and Research Fund to ensure the growth of the educational and scientific discovery endeavors of the Society and to establish a solid foundation for its successful future as an entity dedicated to better care of children in pain.

SPPM leaders have all made donations to the fund. We are now asking our members for support. Any amount of support, large or small, will be accepted and we hope that you will support this worthy cause at ANY level.

Click here to donate today!

Vision Statement

The Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine (SPPM) supports the goals of the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia to continually advance the quality of anesthesia care, perioperative management, and, in particular, the alleviation of acute and chronic pain-related conditions in children up to 21 years of age and young adults still in the transition of care to adult practice.

Upcoming Meetings

February 27, 2020
Atlantis Paradise Island
Nassau, Bahamas

Benefits of Membership

There are many benefits in becoming a member

  • Education
  • Quality and Safety
  • Networking Opportunity
  • Advocacy
Discover the Benefits

SPPM FAQs

Do you have questions about SPPM?

Start here to learn more about joining, getting involved, and getting ahead

Learn More About SPPM