Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

A Preterm Rat Model for Pain Studies
01:37

A Preterm Rat Model for Pain Studies

Published on: February 9, 2024

Prevention and management of pain in the neonate. An update

, ,

    Advances in Neonatal Care : Official Journal of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses
    |September 12, 2007
    PubMed

    Insights

    Preventing pain in neonates is crucial, especially for premature infants at high risk for neurodevelopmental issues. Implementing comprehensive pain management programs in NICUs is essential for infant well-being.

    Area of Science:

    • Neonatal care
    • Pediatric pain management
    • Neurodevelopmental outcomes

    Background:

    • Repeated painful exposures in neonates can lead to adverse neurodevelopmental consequences.
    • Premature infants, particularly the smallest and sickest, face the highest risk of pain exposure in the NICU.
    • Current knowledge gaps exist regarding optimal neonatal pain prevention and relief strategies.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To emphasize the critical need for pain prevention in neonates.
    • To highlight the underuse of proven, safe therapies for routine painful procedures.
    • To advocate for the implementation of comprehensive neonatal pain-prevention programs.

    Main Methods:

    • Review of existing knowledge on neonatal pain.
    • Identification of effective pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic pain management therapies.
    • Analysis of strategies for pain assessment and procedural modification.

    Main Results:

    • Proven and safe pain prevention therapies are underutilized in routine neonatal care.
    • Neonates at highest risk for neurodevelopmental impairment are also most exposed to painful stimuli.
    • Effective pain management is achievable through a multi-faceted approach.

    Conclusions:

    • All healthcare facilities caring for neonates must establish robust pain-prevention programs.
    • Programs should include pain assessment, procedural minimization, and effective use of therapies.
    • Eliminating pain during major procedures is a critical goal for neonatal care.

    More Related Videos

    Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants09:18

    Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants

    Published on: December 20, 2011

    Electrophysiological Measurement of Noxious-evoked Brain Activity in Neonates Using a Flat-tip Probe Coupled to Electroencephalography06:29

    Electrophysiological Measurement of Noxious-evoked Brain Activity in Neonates Using a Flat-tip Probe Coupled to Electroencephalography

    Published on: November 29, 2017

    Related Concept Videos

    Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

    Analgesia and Pain Management

    Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
    Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia01:29

    Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia

    Epidural anesthetics are administered in the fat-filled epidural space, the outermost part of the spinal canal. This technique is commonly employed for pain management and anesthesia during lower abdomen and pelvis surgeries or labor and delivery.
    Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...
    Peripheral Artery Disease V: Postoperative Nursing Management01:23

    Peripheral Artery Disease V: Postoperative Nursing Management

    During the postoperative period, it is crucial to focus on maintaining circulation, identifying and managing potential complications, and planning for discharge.Nursing AssessmentVital signs monitoring: Regularly monitor vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature, to detect early signs of complications such as bleeding and infection.Circulation assessment: Monitor pulses, perform Doppler assessments, and check capillary refill, color, temperature, and...
    Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview01:24

    Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview

    Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.
    Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention01:30

    Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention

    Nursing management of pneumonia involves promoting airway patency, facilitating rest and conserving energy, encouraging fluid intake, maintaining nutrition, and educating patients.
    The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
    Enhance airway patency
    Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed.
    Peripheral Artery Disease IV: Nursing Management01:26

    Peripheral Artery Disease IV: Nursing Management

    The nursing management of a patient with peripheral artery disease (PAD) begins with a thorough assessment of the patient’s health history and clinical manifestations.AssessmentHealth History: Evaluate the patient’s history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, family history of cardiovascular issues, and lifestyle factors such as dietary patterns, smoking, and physical activity.Physical Examination:Assess the affected extremity for decreased or absent peripheral pulses, temperature changes,...