title: The safety and efficacy of oral dextrose for relieving pain following venepuncture in neonates.
abstract: The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of oral 30% dextrose during venepuncture in neonates. Neonates admitted in the Special Care Nursery for jaundice from September 200 to January 2001 were recruited for this double-blind randomised controlled trial. The intervention consisted of administration of either 2 ml of oral 30% dextrose or 2 ml of sterile water 2 minutes before venepuncture. The primary outcome measure was the cumulative Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) score at 3 minutes after venepuncture and the duration of cry assessed from a videotaped recording. Twenty-six neonates received 30% dextrose and 26 neonates received sterile water. The cumulative NIPS score at 3 minutes (median, IQR) after venepuncture for neonates given 30% dextrose (13, 6.8-21) was significantly (p = 0.03) lower than that for neonates given sterile water (21, 13.8-21). The duration of cry in neonates given 30% dextrose (median 45 sec IQR 1.5-180.8 sec) was significantly (p = 0.03) shorter than that in neonates given sterile water (median 191 sec IQR 52.3-250 sec). No neonates developed diarrhoea, fever or rash during the 24 hour observation period. Both the intra-rater (ICC 0.993 95% CI 0.988-0.996) and inter rater (ICC 0.988 95% CI 0.980-0.993) agreement on the 3-minute NIPS score were good. In conclusion oral 30% dextrose given 2 minutes before venepuncture was effective in reducing neonatal pain following venepuncture. It is a simple, safe and fast acting analgesic and should be considered for minor invasive procedure in term neonates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Quah
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Rostenberghe
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015588:Observer Variation; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D018962:Phlebotomy; D011677:Punctures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013549:Sweetening Agents; D005947:Glucose