Related Experiment Videos
Intracranial pressure during procedural pain.
Carlo Valerio Bellieni1, Alessandro Burroni, Serafina Perrone
1Department of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. bellieni@iol.it
Biology of the Neonate
|September 25, 2003
Summary
Heel prick blood sampling in newborns causes a higher intracranial pressure (ICP) rise than jugular vein sampling. Sensorial saturation significantly reduces this ICP elevation during heel pricks.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal physiology
- Pediatric neurology
- Pain management in infants
Background:
- Physiological responses to pain can compromise central nervous system (CNS) integrity.
- Intracranial pressure (ICP) is critical for regulating cerebral perfusion; elevated ICP can lead to brain hemorrhage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the impact of different blood sampling methods on ICP in newborns.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of sensorial saturation in mitigating pain-induced ICP changes.
Main Methods:
- ICP was measured in 51 healthy newborns (35-41 weeks gestational age) using a tonometer on the anterior fontanelle.
- Peak ICP values were recorded during three blood sampling procedures: external jugular vein (JV), heel prick, and heel prick with sensorial saturation.
Main Results:
- Heel prick sampling resulted in significantly higher peak ICP than JV sampling (p<0.0001).
- JV sampling group had elevated baseline ICP due to body positioning.
- Heel prick with sensorial saturation showed a significantly lower peak ICP compared to JV sampling (p<0.0001).
Conclusions:
- Heel prick procedures induce a greater increase in ICP in newborns compared to jugular vein sampling.
- Sensorial saturation effectively moderates the rise in ICP associated with heel prick blood sampling.