title: The neurodevelopmental impact of neonatal morphine administration.
abstract: Medical management of newborn infants often necessitates recurrent painful procedures, which may alter nociceptive pathways during a critical developmental period and adversely effect neuropsychological outcomes. To mitigate the effects of repeated painful stimuli, opioid administration for peri-procedural analgesia and ICU (intensive care unit) sedation is common in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). A growing body of basic and animal evidence suggests potential long-term harm associated with neonatal opioid therapy. Morphine increases apoptosis in human microglial cells, and animal studies demonstrate long-term changes in behavior, brain function, and spatial recognition memory following morphine exposure. This comprehensive review examines existing preclinical and clinical evidence on the long-term impacts of neonatal pain and opioid therapy.
authors: Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Children's Place, Suite 5S-31, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. Attarian_S@kids.wustl.edu.
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Attarian
authors: Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Children's Place, Suite 5S-31, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. tranl@anest.wustl.edu.
authors: Lan Chi
authors: LC
authors: Tran
authors: Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Children's Place, Suite 5S-31, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. Moore_A@kids.wustl.edu.
authors: Aimee
authors: A
authors: Moore
authors: Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Children's Place, Suite 5S-31, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. grstant@gmail.com.
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Stanton
authors: Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Children's Place, Suite 5S-31, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. meyere@anest.wustl.edu.
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Meyer
authors: Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Children's Place, Suite 5S-31, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. meyere@anest.wustl.edu.
authors: Robert P
authors: RP
authors: Moore