Cláudia Maria Gaspardo

Is pain relief equally efficacious and free of side effects with repeated doses of oral sucrose in preterm neonates

&NA; The aim of the present study was to examine the efficacy and potential side effects of repeated doses of oral sucrose for pain relief during procedures in NICU. Thirty‐three preterm neonates were randomly allocated in blind fashion into two groups, the sucrose group (SG = 17) and the control group (CG = 16). The responses of neonates to pain and distress were assessed during blood collection on four consecutive assessment (ass.) days. For the first assessment, the neonates did not receive any solution before the blood collection procedure. During the next three days, the SG received oral sucrose (25%; 0.5 ml/kg) and the CG received sterile water, 2 min before each minor acute painful procedure. The neonates were evaluated during blood collection each morning. The assessment was divided into five phases: Baseline (BL), Antisepsis (A), Puncture (P), Dressing (D), and Recovery (R). The neonates’ facial activity (NFCS), behavioral state, and heart rate were evaluated. The data analysis used cut‐off scores for painful and distressful responses. No side effects of using sucrose were detected. There were significantly fewer SG neonates with facial actions signaling pain than CG neonates in P (ass.2) and in A (ass.3). We found significantly fewer SG neonates in the awake state than CG neonates in P (ass.2 and ass.4). There were significantly fewer SG neonates crying during A (ass.2), P (ass.2 and ass.4), and D (ass.3). There was no statistical difference between‐groups for physiological response. The efficacy of sucrose was maintained for pain relief in preterm neonates with no side effects.

Pain and distress reactivity and recovery as early predictors of temperament in toddlers born preterm

BACKGROUND Pain reactivity may reflect underlying mechanisms of constitutional aspects of temperament. AIM To examine whether the neonatal biobehavioral reactivity and recovery responses from pain and distress, as well as the gestational age, the illness severity and the amount of painful procedures undergone the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) stay, predict temperament later in toddlerhood, in vulnerable children born preterm. STUDY DESIGN Prospective-longitudinal study. SUBJECTS Twenty-six preterm and very low birth weight infants followed from birth to toddlerhood. OUTCOME MEASURES Illness severity was assessed with the Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB) score. The medical charts were reviewed prospectively for obtaining the amount of pain exposure in NICU. For assessing the behavioral and cardiac reactivity and recovery from pain and distress, the neonates were evaluated during routine blood collection in the NICU in the first 10 days of life. Pain and distress reactivity and recovery was measured using the Neonatal Facial Coding System score, the duration of crying, and the magnitude of average heart rate. At toddlerhood, mothers answered the Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire. RESULTS Higher biobehavioral reactivity to pain and distress predicted higher temperamental Negative Affect, above and beyond gestational age, illness severity and amount of pain exposure in NICU. However, we did not find a predictive relation between gestational age, CRIB score and number of painful procedures undergone NICU and toddlers temperament. CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the relevance of the neonatal individual characteristics of reactivity for identifying more vulnerable infants for future problems in biobehavioral regulation.

Pain reactivity and recovery in preterm neonates: latency, magnitude, and duration of behavioral responses

BACKGROUND Studies on acute-procedural pain in neonates have been based more on single behavioral scores than on response patterns. AIM To assess the individual reactivity and recovery pattern to the painful procedure of blood collection. STUDY DESIGN A cross-sectional, within-group comparison trial. SUBJECTS Forty-eight preterm and very low birth weight neonates hospitalized in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. OUTCOME MEASURES The assessment was divided into five consecutive phases: Baseline (BL); Antisepsis (A), covering the period of handling of the neonate for antisepsis prior to puncture; Puncture (P); Recovery-Dressing (RD), covering the period of handling of the neonate for dressing until positioning for rest in the isolette; and Recovery-Resting (RR). Facial activity was recorded by video, and sleep-wake state was recorded at the bedside. The facial activity of the neonates was analyzed according to Neonatal Facial Coding System (NFCS). The pain reactivity pattern was analyzed using the measures of latency, magnitude, and duration of behavioral responses and by comparison between the different phases. RESULTS In the Antisepsis phase, the neonates showed higher NFCS score and behavioral arousal than at Baseline. In the Puncture phase, the neonates showed higher NFCS score and behavioral activation than in Baseline and in Antisepsis. In Recovery-Dressing, 31% of neonates continued to show more behavioral activation than at Baseline. CONCLUSION To better assess and manage pain in preterm neonates, it is relevant to analyze the individual patterns of changes, focusing on the reactivity and also the recovery, during painful stimuli.

Pain and tactile stimuli during arterial puncture in preterm neonates.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess the behavioral and physiological reactivity of preterm neonates during different phases of a blood collection procedure involving arterial puncture. The sample consisted of 43 preterm and very low birth weight neonates with a postnatal age of 1 to 21 days who were hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The neonates were evaluated during the whole blood collection procedure. The assessment was divided into five consecutive phases: Baseline (BL); Antisepsis (A), covering the period of handling of the neonate for antisepsis prior to puncture; Puncture (P); Recovery‐Dressing (RD), covering the period of handling of the neonate for dressing until positioning for rest in the isolette; and Recovery‐Resting (RR). Facial activity was videotaped and analyzed using the Neonatal Facial Coding System (NFCS). The sleep‐wake state and heart rate were registered at the bedside. There was a significant increase in NFCS score and heart rate, and more active behavior during phases A, P, and RD relative to BL. Regarding the tactile stimulation of the infant in pre‐puncture (A) and post‐puncture (RD), it was observed increased NFCS score, heart rate, and active behavior in comparison to the BL and RR phases. There was evidence of distress responses immediately before and after a painful event, quite apart from the pain reaction to the puncture procedure.

Neurobehavioral development prior to term-age of preterm infants and acute stressful events during neonatal hospitalization

BACKGROUND Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) protect preterm infants; otherwise, this is a stressful environment including painful stimuli. AIMS To compare early neurobehavioral development prior to term-age in preterm infants at 34-36weeks of post-conceptional age in different gestational ages, and to examine the effects of prematurity level and acute stressful events during NICU hospitalization on neurobehavioral development. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional design. SUBJECTS Forth-five preterm infants, 34-36weeks of post-conceptional age, were distributed into groups: extreme preterm (EPT; 23-28weeks of gestational age; n=10), moderate preterm (MPT; 29-32weeks of gestational age; n=10), late preterm (LPT; 34-36weeks of gestational age; n=25). OUTCOME MEASURES All of the neonates were evaluated using the Neurobehavioral Assessment of Preterm Infant (NAPI) prior to 37weeks of post-conceptional age. The Neonatal Infant Stressor Scale (NISS) was applied for EPT and MPT infants during NICU hospitalization, and medical charts were analyzed. RESULTS The EPT group experienced significantly more acute stressful events during NICU hospitalization than the MPT group. The MPT group had lower scores in motor development and vigor than the EPT and LPT group, and they exhibited poorer quality crying than the LPT group. Motor development and vigor and alertness and orientation in preterm infants were predicted by prematurity level and acute stressful events. CONCLUSION The extreme preterm was exposed to higher stressful experiences than moderate and late preterm infants. However, the moderate preterm infants presented more vulnerable than the other counterparts in motor and vigor outcomes.

PREMATURITY, NEONATAL HEALTH STATUS, AND LATER CHILD BEHAVIORAL/EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Preterm birth can impact on child development. As seen previously, children born preterm present more behavioral and/or emotional problems than do full-term counterparts. In addition to gestational age, neonatal clinical status should be examined to better understand the differential impact of premature birth on later developmental outcomes. The aim of the present study was to systematically review empirical studies on the relationship between prematurity, neonatal health status, and behavioral and/or emotional problems in children. A systematic search of the PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and LILACS databases for articles published from 2009 to 2014 was performed. The inclusion criteria were empirical studies that evaluated behavioral and/or emotional problems that are related to clinical neonatal variables in children born preterm. Twenty-seven studies were reviewed. Results showed that the degree of prematurity and birth weight were associated with emotional and/or behavioral problems in children at different ages. Prematurity that was associated with neonatal clinical conditions (e.g., sepsis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and hemorrhage) and such treatments as corticoids and steroids increased the risk for these problems. The volume and abnormalities of specific brain structures also were associated with these outcomes. In conclusion, the neonatal health problems associated with prematurity present a negative impact on later child emotional and adapted behavior.

Examining the side effects of sucrose for pain relief in preterm infants: a case-control study

Sucrose solution is recommended as relevant pain relief management in neonates during acute painful procedures; however, only a few studies have analyzed the potentially adverse effects of sucrose administration to preterm neonates. The goal of this study was to examine the potential side effects of sucrose for pain relief in preterm infants, assessing feeding and weight gain during hospitalization and their feeding patterns postdischarge. The study sample consisted of 43 preterm neonates divided into two groups: a sucrose group (SG, n=18) and a control group (CG, n=25) in which no sucrose was administered. The SG received 0.5 mL/kg 25% oral sucrose for 2 min prior to all acute painful procedures during three consecutive days. A prospective review of medical charts was performed for all samples. The study was done prior to implementation of the institutional sucrose guidelines as a routine service, and followed all ethical requirements. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in terms of weight gain, length of stay with orogastric tubes, and parenteral feeding. Postdischarge, infant nutritional intake included feeding human milk to 67% of the SG and 74% of the CG. There were no statistically significant differences between groups regarding human milk feeding patterns postdischarge. Neonate feeding patterns and weight gain were unaffected following the short-term use of sucrose for pain relief.

Dor, autorregulação e temperamento em recém-nascidos pré-termo de alto risco

High risk preterm newborns are exposed to unavoidable painful experiences in Neonatal Intensive Care Units. In spite of their biological immaturity, they are able to perceive and react to pain stimuli. Repetitive exposure to pain has a negative impact on the development and may increase the infants vulnerability, affecting self-regulatory processes. Biobehavioral reactivity to pain is an indicator of self-regulation and it is associated to the childs temperament. Preterm infants need pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies for pain relieving. Moreover, they need a context of synchronic interaction with their parents which must be adapted to their temperament characteristics. Health professionals may play an important role in supporting external regulation for those infants, promoting pain relief and preventing development problems.

Does the neonatal clinical risk for illness severity influence pain reactivity and recovery in preterm infants

The biobehavioural pain reactivity and recovery of preterm infants in the neonatal period may reflect the capacity of the central nervous system to regulate neurobiological development.

Impact of neonatal risk and temperament on behavioral problems in toddlers born preterm

Children born preterm are at risk for later developmental disorders. The present study examined the predictive effects of neonatal, sociodemographic, and temperament characteristics on behavioral outcomes at toddlerhood, in children born preterm. The sample included 100 toddlers born preterm and with very-low-birth-weight, and their mothers. Neonatal characteristics were evaluated using medical records. The mothers were interviewed using the Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire for temperament assessment, and the Child Behavior Checklist for behavioral assessment. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Predictors of 39% of the variability of the total behavioral problems in toddlers born prematurely were: temperament with more Negative Affectivity and less Effortful Control, lower family socioeconomic status, and younger mothers at childbirth. Temperament with more Negative Affectivity and less Effortful Control and lower family socioeconomic status were predictors of 23% of the variability of internalizing behavioral problems. Additionally, 37% of the variability of externalizing behavioral problems was explained by temperament with more Negative Affectivity and less Effortful Control, and younger mothers at childbirth. The neonatal characteristics and stressful events in the neonatal intensive care unit did not predict behavioral problems at toddlerhood. However, temperament was a consistent predictor of behavioral problems in toddlers born preterm. Preventive follow-up programs could assess dispositional traits of temperament to provide early identification of preterm infants at high-risk for behavioral problems.