Nicola Elisabeth Schubach1,2, Katrin Mehler1, Bernhard Roth1, Eckhard Korsch3, Rainhard Laux4, Dominique Singer5, Axel von der Wense6, András Treszl7, Christoph Hünseler8. 1. Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, Children's Hospital of the University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 34, 50931, Cologne, Germany. 2. Children's Hospital Agaplesion Diakonieklinik Rotenburg, Elise-Averdieck-Straße 17, 27356, Rotenburg (Wümme), Germany. 3. Children's Hospital of the City of Cologne, Amsterdamerstrasse 59, 50735, Cologne, Germany. 4. Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, Asklepios Klinik Barmbek, Hamburg, Rübenkamp 220, 22291, Hamburg, Germany. 5. Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, University Children's Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52/N23, 20246, Hamburg, Germany. 6. Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, Altonaer Children's Hospital, Altonaer Kinderkrankenhaus, Bleickenallee 38, 22763, Hamburg, Germany. 7. Department of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, Center for Experimental Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany. 8. Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, Children's Hospital of the University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 34, 50931, Cologne, Germany. christoph.huenseler@uk-koeln.de.
Abstract
UNLABELLED: The aims of this study were to compare the skin conductance (SC) of newborns with opiate-induced neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) to that of unexposed newborns and to evaluate the potential of SC readings to detect distress in the context of NAS objectively. The SC of 12 newborns with NAS and 12 unexposed newborns was measured at nine specific times during their first 6 weeks of life. The number of SC fluctuations per second (NSCF/s), the amplitude of SC fluctuation, and the mean level of SC were recorded and analyzed. The SC of newborns treated for symptoms of NAS differed significantly from the SC of unexposed newborns with regard to the NSCF/s (p = 0.04). With the mean level of SC, we observed an interaction between groups over time (p value for interaction = 0.02). With increasing postnatal age, we observed higher values in all three SC parameters. CONCLUSION: The NSCF/s and the mean level of SC appear to be suitable to reflect the distress of newborns suffering from NAS. As it is known that the sensitivity of SC increases with the level of stress experienced, its potential to indicate elevated stress levels in infants with NAS should be investigated in future studies evaluating different therapy regimens. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Skin conductance is a result of the filling of palmar and plantar sweat glands innervated by the sympathetic nervous system • Skin conductance can be used as a measure of stress and pain in newborns What is New: • Skin conductance of newborns with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) differs significantly from the SC of non-substance-exposed newborns during the first 6 weeks of life • Skin conductance appears to reflect the increased distress of infants with NAS.
UNLABELLED: The aims of this study were to compare the skin conductance (SC) of newborns with opiate-induced neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) to that of unexposed newborns and to evaluate the potential of SC readings to detect distress in the context of NAS objectively. The SC of 12 newborns with NAS and 12 unexposed newborns was measured at nine specific times during their first 6 weeks of life. The number of SC fluctuations per second (NSCF/s), the amplitude of SC fluctuation, and the mean level of SC were recorded and analyzed. The SC of newborns treated for symptoms of NAS differed significantly from the SC of unexposed newborns with regard to the NSCF/s (p = 0.04). With the mean level of SC, we observed an interaction between groups over time (p value for interaction = 0.02). With increasing postnatal age, we observed higher values in all three SC parameters. CONCLUSION: The NSCF/s and the mean level of SC appear to be suitable to reflect the distress of newborns suffering from NAS. As it is known that the sensitivity of SC increases with the level of stress experienced, its potential to indicate elevated stress levels in infants with NAS should be investigated in future studies evaluating different therapy regimens. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Skin conductance is a result of the filling of palmar and plantar sweat glands innervated by the sympathetic nervous system • Skin conductance can be used as a measure of stress and pain in newborns What is New: • Skin conductance of newborns with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) differs significantly from the SC of non-substance-exposed newborns during the first 6 weeks of life • Skin conductance appears to reflect the increased distress of infants with NAS.
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