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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants
09:18

Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants

Published on: December 20, 2011

Pain, opioid tolerance and sensitisation to nociception in the neonate

Anna Taddio1, Joel Katz

  • 1Department of Population Health Sciences, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. anna.taddio@sickkids.ca

Best Practice & Research. Clinical Anaesthesiology
|June 3, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Opioid analgesics manage newborn infant pain from procedures and conditions. Careful administration minimizes side effects, and untreated pain may cause lasting behavioral issues, suggesting opioids offer long-term benefits.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Pediatric pain management
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Pain is frequent in newborns.
  • Opioid analgesics are increasingly used for neonatal pain.
  • Opioid adverse effects include respiratory depression and hypotension.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the use of opioid analgesics in neonates.
  • To discuss minimizing adverse effects.
  • To explore the long-term implications of pain and analgesia.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on neonatal pain and opioid use.
  • Analysis of adverse effect mitigation strategies.
  • Examination of research on long-term pain behavioral outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Opioids effectively manage neonatal pain from various sources.
  • Specific administration techniques and monitoring reduce opioid risks.
  • Untreated pain can lead to persistent negative behavioral changes in infants.

Conclusions:

  • Opioid analgesics play a crucial role in managing neonatal pain.
  • Risk management is essential for safe opioid use in infants.
  • Addressing neonatal pain may prevent long-term behavioral consequences.

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