Comparison of the Pain-relieving Effects of Human Milk, Sucrose, and Distilled Water during Examinations for Retinopathy of Prematurity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Purpose: This study compared the pain-relieving effects of human milk, sucrose, and distilled water during examinations for retinopathy of prematurity. Methods: Forty-five preterm infants were randomly assigned to receive a pacifier dipped in one of three solutions: human milk (n=14), 24% sucrose (n=15), or distilled water (n=16), 2 minutes before an eye examination. Their pain score, pulse rate, and oxygen saturation were measured at three time points: 5 minutes before the examination, 30 seconds after speculum introduction, and 2 minutes after the examination. Results: The infants' mean gestational age and weight at birth were 33.1±2.1 weeks and 1,842±470 g, respectively. There were no between-group differences in pain relief during the eye examination. The pain score significantly increased both during (p<.001) and after the examinations (p=.003). Oxygen saturation decreased during the examinations (p<.001); however, the infants in the 24% sucrose group showed higher oxygen saturation (p=.047) during the examinations than the infants in the other groups. Conclusion: Sucking on a pacifier dipped in human milk or 24% sucrose did not reduce the pain associated with eye examinations in preterm infants. Pacifiers dipped in sucrose can be used to maintain better oxygen saturation during these examinations.

Effectiveness of Gentle Human Touch for Pain Control During Examination for Retinopathy of Pre-maturity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Because of the side effects of drugs, non-drug analgesic methods such as skin contact between the mother and child, touching, breastfeeding, feeding sugar, and non-nutritive sucking are commonly used (10). At home and abroad, several studies have evaluated the analgesic effects of sucrose or breast milk during ROP screening (11). However, to our knowledge, there is no report on the effects of Gentle Human Touch on the pain response during ROP screening.…”

Non-pharmacological pain relief interventions in preterm neonates undergoing screening for retinopathy of prematurity: a systematic review

“…All the included studies were prospective RCTs,46–66 of these, two were crossover RCTs,48 58 while the others were parallel-group RCTs. All the studies were done in Asia except three in North America,46–48 and two in Europe 49 50.…”

“…The included studies were divided into two groups, A and B. Group A included the 14 studies utilising sweet taste (dextrose, sucrose, glucose and breast milk),46–57 61 63 while the remaining 7 using touch, position, multisensory stimulation, environmental modification, music and NNS made up Group B 58–60 62 64–66. A study which compared sucrose with pacifier was categorised under Group A,49 while another compared multisensory stimulation with breast milk and was categorised in Group B 64.…”

Comparison of the Effect of Two Methods of Breastfeeding and Oral Glucose 10% on the Severity of Venipuncture-Induced Pain and Physiological Indicators in Hospitalized Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study

“…In 2012, more than one in 10 infants were born prematurely, and more than one million infants die after birth. Also, according to the World Health Organization (2011), the death of premature infants has been an important cause of death in children under ve years of age in Iran (3). Infants are able to perceive, experience, and remember pain (4).…”

“…Infants are able to perceive, experience, and remember pain (4). Also, they are more sensitive to pain than adults because they do not have a declining control system that is effective in moderating pain (3), and even non-painful stimuli might cause a pain response in them (5).…”