Consensus Statement for the Prevention and Management of Pain in the Newborn

Abstract

Management of pain must be considered an important component of the health care provided to all neonates, regardless of their gestational age or severity of illness.

Sedation and analgesia practices in neonatal intensive care units (EUROPAIN): results from a prospective cohort study

“…27 This approach is further substantiated by associations between increased pain exposure and adverse developmental outcomes. 5,28,29 Although guide lines for procedural pain management in neonates exist, 30,31 there are none for prolonged sedation and analgesia in the NICU, perhaps explaining the diff erences in clinical practices.…”

Measuring developmentally appropriate practice in neonatal intensive care units

“…1,2 Concerns about the infant's experiences in the environment of the NICU, in particular, pain, sleep deprivation, high noise and light levels, and compromised human interactions, have led to the development of many early intervention programs. [1][2][3][4][5] Since the mid-1980s, these programs have emphasized the importance of providing the premature infant with early experiences that support development. The developmental supportive care (DSC), which is based on the assumptions that premature infants are active participants who communicate through their behavior and that their physiological and behavioral regulatory capacities must be bolstered, 1 includes a range of medical and nursing interventions.…”

The development of potentially better practices to support the neurodevelopment of infants in the NICU

“…This has been discussed extensively in the literature, and may lead to behavioral abnormalities and alterations in subsequent response to pain, as well as potential emotional or behavioral disability. [239][240][241][242][243][244][245][246][247][248][249][250][251][252][253][254][255][256] The recent AAP position statements has consolidated the available evidence and establishes a consensus recommendation to recognize that the prevention of pain in the neonate should be a goal of all caregivers, and strategies should be developed to prevent and manage pain in the newborn. 257 Recommendation: Decrease exposure to painful/negative stimulation.…”