Non-pharmacological intervention for neonatal pain control

Background

Acute pain and distress during medical procedures are commonplace in newborn admitted to Intensive Care Unit and can have detrimental effects, if uncontrolled.

Accumulating evidence suggests that neonate, as older children, could benefice of non pharmacological interventions (NPIs) to relive mild to moderate pain, anxiety and discomfort from minor invasive procedures. [1] These therapies include nonnutritive sucking (NNS) both with and without sucrose, swaddling, positioning, facilitated tucking (FT), kangaroo care or skin to skin contact (KMC), multi-sensorial stimulation (SS) and music therapy.

Material and methods

To assess efficacy of NPIs for acute procedural pain in neonate, a literature search covered the period 2000-2014 via Medline and Cochrane Library database, was undertaken. Inclusion criteria were preterm and newborn, involved in randomized controlled or crossover trial. Pain reactivity was described in term of physiological parameters (heart rate, oxygen saturation) behavioral indicators (duration of first cry and total crying time) and validated unidimensional, multidimensional and/or composite pain scores as PIPP, NIPS, DAN, NFCS etc. Two independent reviewers extracted data and methodological quality was assessed, according with GRADE system.

Results

Nineteen Randomized Controlled Trials and twelve meta-analysis and systematic reviews were taken in consideration. The efficacy of NPIs in reliving pain and distress from skin-breaking procedures has been demonstrated mostly in heel prick and venipuncture. (Table 1)

Table 1 Efficacy of environmental, behavioral and non-pharmacological strategies on pain reactivity in newborn.

There are sufficient evidence that supports efficacy in reducing pain-relating behaviors for NNS, swaddling and FT in preterm and term neonates. [1] KMC appears to be effective, as measured by composite pain score including physiological and behavioral indicators and safe for single painful procedures, alone or combined with other NPIs. [2] Small volumes of 24% sucrose with or without NNS reduced efficiently behavioral expressions of pain and crying time, as well as PIPP scores. [3] Also expressed human milk or breastfeeding, if available, should be used to alleviate procedural pain [4], as well as 20-30% glucose [5]. SS is more effective than glucose and sucking, but there are no studies comparing SS and standard sucrose 24% and NNS with pacifier, which actually is the standard of care for heel lance. [6]

Limited evidence suggests that Music Therapy may be beneficial primarily for measures of behavior and pain, however the heterogeneity of the study preclude definitive conclusions. [7]

Conclusions

As the efficacy of the majority of NPIs is clearly demonstrated in preterm and neonates, they should be considered for inclusion in a graduated multidisciplinary algorithm for neonatal pain management.