Oral glucose solution as pain relief in newborns: results of a clinical trial.
BACKGROUND
It was long believed that newborns could not experience pain. As it is now documented that newborns have all the necessary systems to perceive pain, pain management can no longer be ignored. The objective of this study is to investigate which concentration of glucose is most effective in reducing pain for venipuncture in the newborn.


METHODS
This double-blind clinical trial of 304 newborns was conducted on a maternity and neonatal ward (neonatal medium intensive care unit). During at least 1 month, one of the four selected solutions (10, 20, 30% glucose, and placebo) was administered orally, 2 minutes before the venipuncture was performed. The pain from the skin puncture was scored using a validated pain scale (the "Leuven Pain Scale").


RESULTS
This study showed a significantly lower average pain score in the 30 percent glucose group (3.99) when compared with the placebo group (8.43). The average pain scores in the 20 percent glucose group (5.26) and the 10 percent glucose group (5.92) were also significantly lower than those in the placebo group.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral administration of 2 mL of 30 percent glucose 2 minutes before the venipuncture provides the most effective pain reduction in newborns.
Dilen
Ben
B
Neonatal Ward, Heilig Hart Hospital, Mol, Belgium.
Elseviers
Monique
M
D000284:Administration, Oral; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*
D005947:Glucose