Topical anesthesia or oral dextrose for the relief of pain in screening for retinopathy of prematurity: a randomized controlled double-blinded trial.
OBJECTIVE
Compare efficacy of 0.5% proparacaine eye drops and oral 25% dextrose in reducing pain during screening for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).


METHODS
Double-blinded randomized controlled trial. Twenty eligible babies were randomized. Group I received 0.5% proparacaine eye drops at first ROP screening, while Group II received 25% dextrose orally. At second examination, babies received no intervention. Pain was assessed using Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) score.


RESULTS
The mean ( ± SD) PIPP during procedure in Group I were 15.5 ± 2.06 and 14 ± 2.4 at first and second screening (p = 0.259). The mean ( ± SD) PIPP in Group II were 14.2 ± 1. 8 and 14.9 ± 2.5 at the first and second screening (p = 0.428). Differences were not statistically significant. The PIPP scores of Group I and Group II at the first screening were also not significantly different (p = 0.165).


CONCLUSIONS
ROP screening causes moderate to severe pain and neither proparacaine nor dextrose is an effective analgesic.
Department of Neonatology, St Johns Medical College Hospital, Bangalore 560034, India.
Saudamini V
SV
Nesargi
Department of Ophthalmology, St Johns Medical College Hospital, Bangalore 560034, India.
Suneetha
S
Nithyanandam
Department of Neonatology, St Johns Medical College Hospital, Bangalore 560034, India.
Suman
S
Rao
Department of Neonatology, St Johns Medical College Hospital, Bangalore 560034, India somu_somu@yahoo.com.
Somashekhar
S
Nimbalkar
Department of Neonatology and Pediatrics, Mazumdhar Shaw Medical Centre, Narayana Health city, Bangalore, India.
Swarnarekha
S
Bhat
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D058447:Eye Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011430:Propoxycaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; C005717:proxymetacaine; D011430:Propoxycaine; D005947:Glucose
PIPP; ROP screening; dextrose; pain; proparacaine