PEDIATRICS Vol. 118 No. 5 November 2006, pp. 2231-2241 (doi:10.1542/peds.2006-2277)
POLICY STATEMENT |
Prevention and Management of Pain in the Neonate: An Update
The prevention of pain in neonates should be the goal of all caregivers, because repeated painful exposures have the potential for deleterious consequences. Neonates at greatest risk of neurodevelopmental impairment as a result of preterm birth (ie, the smallest and sickest) are also those most likely to be exposed to the greatest number of painful stimuli in the NICU. Although there are major gaps in our knowledge regarding the most effective way to prevent and relieve pain in neonates, proven and safe therapies are currently underused for routine minor yet painful procedures. Every health care facility caring for neonates should implement an effective pain-prevention program, which includes strategies for routinely assessing pain, minimizing the number of painful procedures performed, effectively using pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies for the prevention of pain associated with routine minor procedures, and eliminating pain associated with surgery and other major procedures.
Key Words: pain neonates
Abbreviations: IVH—intraventricular hemorrhage PVL—periventricular leukomalacia ROP—retinopathy of prematurity
The following policy statement has been revised:
- Prevention and Management of Pain and Stress in the Neonate
- and
Pediatrics 105: 454-461.[Full Text]
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