Limit sucrose as painkiller for newborns
Using sucrose to reduce pain in newborns undergoing painful procedures should be limited to babies having blood taken (venipuncture) for the newborn screening test but not for intramuscular injections, write Dr. Anna Taddio and co-authors. In this double-blind, randomized controlled trial of 240 newborns at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital, researchers found that "sucrose reduced overall pain in newborns when administered before painful medical procedures during the first 2 days after birth." However, "unexpectedly, we did not observe analgesic effects during either intramuscular injection of vitamin K in either group [newborns of diabetic and nondiabetic mothers] or during repeated heel-lancing for blood glucose monitoring in newborns of diabetic mothers."
As all newborns experience pain from medical procedures in the first days of life, the results of this study will be helpful in reducing pain responses. The authors recommend updating pain management guidelines to reflect these findings.
Source: Canadian Medical Association Journal
Articles on the same topic
- Newborns in ICUs often undergo painful procedures, most without pain medicationTue, 1 Jul 2008, 20:29:12 UTC
- Spray reduces pain in children undergoing intravenous proceduresTue, 1 Jul 2008, 3:29:08 UTC
Other sources
- Newborns In ICUs Often Undergo Painful Procedures, Most Without Pain Medicationfrom Science DailyThu, 3 Jul 2008, 22:21:13 UTC
- Study: Newborns need more pain relieffrom UPIThu, 3 Jul 2008, 5:07:29 UTC
- Newborns in ICUs often undergo painful procedures, most without pain medicationfrom PhysorgTue, 1 Jul 2008, 21:14:20 UTC
- Spray Reduces Pain In Children Undergoing Intravenous Proceduresfrom Science DailyTue, 1 Jul 2008, 3:28:08 UTC
- Limit Sucrose As Painkiller For Newbornsfrom Science DailyMon, 30 Jun 2008, 14:21:10 UTC