OBJECTIVE: To describe the physiologic and behavioral responses of premature neonates to a painful stimulus. DESIGN: Descriptive. SETTING: Secondary-level neonatal unit in a large metropolitan university teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Forty neonates between 32 and 34 weeks' postconceptual age and less than 5 days' postnatal age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Physiologic (heart rate, oxygen saturation, and intracranial pressure) and behavioral (facial expression and cry) outcomes observed during a routine heel stick. RESULTS: Physiologic responses were significant, but were not specific to pain. Behavioral responses were more promising and indicated that premature neonates were capable of responding in a manner similar to full-term neonates. CONCLUSIONS: Premature neonates are capable of expressing their pain in a manner similar to healthy, full-term neonates. Factors that alter this response were not clearly delineated. Further research is needed to determine more precise patterns of response in this age group.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the physiologic and behavioral responses of premature neonates to a painful stimulus. DESIGN: Descriptive. SETTING: Secondary-level neonatal unit in a large metropolitan university teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Forty neonates between 32 and 34 weeks' postconceptual age and less than 5 days' postnatal age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Physiologic (heart rate, oxygen saturation, and intracranial pressure) and behavioral (facial expression and cry) outcomes observed during a routine heel stick. RESULTS: Physiologic responses were significant, but were not specific to pain. Behavioral responses were more promising and indicated that premature neonates were capable of responding in a manner similar to full-term neonates. CONCLUSIONS: Premature neonates are capable of expressing their pain in a manner similar to healthy, full-term neonates. Factors that alter this response were not clearly delineated. Further research is needed to determine more precise patterns of response in this age group.
Authors: Jordana A Waxman; Rebecca R Pillai Riddell; Paula Tablon; Louis A Schmidt; Angelina Pinhasov Journal: Pain Res Manag Date: 2016-04-20 Impact factor: 3.037