Advances in neonatal care : official journal of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The influence of gestational age on the efficacy and short-term safety of sucrose for procedural pain relief.
Physiologic and behavioral responses to procedural pain are influenced by gestational age (GA). Compared with term neonates, hospitalized preterm neonates are subjected to more painful procedures aimed at improving their clinical outcome. Although several trials to determine the efficacy of sucrose for managing procedural pain have been conducted, none have examined the influence of GA. ⋯ In a secondary analysis of a larger RCT, sucrose and NNS was the most efficacious intervention for single heel lances in each of 3 GA groups. However, infants of lower GA experienced more adverse events. Research on the efficacy and safety of repeated doses of oral sucrose, tested in infants from a wide range of GA, is required.