Efficacy of sucrose as analgesia for procedural pain in neonates

Most infants experience painful procedures during their first days. Minimization of pain to decrease noxious effects is warranted. This Critically Appraised Topic (CAT) evaluates a meta-analysis of 5 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined sucrose as analgesia for neonatal procedural pain.

To determine the efficacy and optimal dosing of sucrose for neonatal procedural pain.

A literature search identified 5 studies that met criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis, for a total of 271 infants studied. The primary outcome measure was crying time, measured for 3 minutes after a painful procedure following administration of water or varying doses of sucrose.

There was no difference in crying time between the 0.18 g sucrose and water groups (P > 0.05), but crying time was significantly less in the other sucrose groups. Doses of at least 0.24 g (2 mL 12% sucrose) were found to be most effective. No adverse effects were reported.

This CAT systematically appraises this meta-analysis, provides clinical bottom lines, and includes recommendations for practice.