Sucrose for Neonatal Analgesia: Is There More to the Story?

Compared with saline, sucrose was associated with improved observational pain scores but had no effect on direct measures of pain-specific brain and spinal cord activity.

Oral sucrose has been shown to reduce neonatal pain in studies that have measured pain by observational behavioral and physiological measures (JW Pediatr Adolesc Med Feb 13 2008). In the current study, investigators assessed the effect of sucrose on pain from heel lancing using a neonatal electroencephalography (EEG) cap to measure pain-specific (nociceptive) brain and spinal cord activity and the observational Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP).

Forty-four full term newborns (age, <8 days) were randomized to receive oral sucrose (0.5 mL of a 24% solution) or oral sterile saline 2 minutes before undergoing a heel lance. PIPP scores and facial expression of pain following the heel lance indicated significantly less pain with oral sucrose th…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)