title: Oral sucrose to decrease pain associated with arterial puncture in infants 30 to 36 weeks' gestation: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of oral sucrose solution on pain responses of neonates to arterial puncture compared with neonates who did not receive a sucrose solution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Convenience sample of 47 neonates, 31 to 35 weeks' gestational age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind, randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in pain response during and after an arterial puncture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infants were randomly assigned to receive a 24% sucrose solution or usual care (comfort measures only) 2 minutes before an arterial puncture. Pain, heart rate, and oxygen saturation were measured before, during, and after an arterial puncture. Chi-square analysis was used to determine group differences, with P < .05 considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-seven subjects were studied during arterial puncture (sucrose, 24; no sucrose, 23). Neonates receiving sucrose solution had significantly less crying than the no sucrose group, both during and immediately after an arterial puncture (P = .006 and .022, respectively). No significant changes in other pain subscales, heart rate, or oxygen saturation were found during or after the arterial puncture (P > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found a significant reduction in the crying subscale of the Neonatal Infant Pain subscale immediately after the introduction of an arterial needle in neonates receiving a 24% sucrose solution, compared with those who did not receive sucrose solution. While prior studies found a similar reduction in pain scores after heel and venipuncture needlesticks, this is the first study evaluating a high concentration of oral sucrose to blunt the pain associated with an arterial puncture.
authors: Cancer Institute, Saint Lukes Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
authors: Wendy
authors: W
authors: Milazzo
authors: Janie
authors: J
authors: Fielder
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Bittel
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Coil
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: McClure
authors: Penny
authors: P
authors: Tobin
authors: Val
authors: V
authors: Vande Kamp
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001158:Arteries; D003448:Crying; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D015146:Midwestern United States; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D047928:Premature Birth; D011677:Punctures / Q000379:methods; D013395:Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013395:Sucrose