Pain assessment: current status and challenges.
Neonatal pain assessment has received much attention over the past decade. Behavioural indicators of pain include facial action, body movement and tone, cry, state/sleep, and consolability. Physiological indicators of pain include increased heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure, as well as decreased heart rate variability and oxygen desaturation. Pain assessment in neonates is difficult in neurologically compromised, chemically paralyzed, and non-responsive infants. Multiple pain assessment tools are summarized. Pain assessment and management protocols are delineated.
Hummel
Pat
P
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and Neonatal Developmental Follow-up Program, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, Illinois 60153, USA. phummel@lumc.edu
van Dijk
Monique
M
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D018730:Infant Behavior; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009359:Neonatology / Q000379:methods*; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
D015415:Biomarkers