[Assessing and treating pain in the newborn]

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Pain Management
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Neonatal pain assessment and management remain challenging due to infants' limited ability to express pain verbally.
• Effective pain management is critical for neonates' well-being and long-term health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an updated review of current neonatal pain assessment tools and pain relief strategies.
• To emphasize the importance of addressing neonatal pain based on medical and ethical considerations.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review of studies published in the last 10 years was conducted.
• The review encompassed various study types, including systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and case studies, alongside expert clinical experience.

Main Results:

• Several validated pain assessment tools, such as the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS), CRIES, and Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP), are available, focusing on facial expressions and multidimensional indicators.
• Non-pharmacological interventions like non-nutritive sucking and sucrose administration offer pain relief.
• Pharmacological options include paracetamol, local anesthetics, and opioids, with opioids being a primary choice for acute pain in neonatal intensive care units. Sedatives manage restlessness but do not alleviate pain.

Conclusions:

• Neonatal pain requires consistent consideration and effective treatment, supported by medical, ethical, and humanitarian principles.
• The availability of validated assessment tools and diverse pain relief methods enhances the capacity to manage neonatal pain effectively.