Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2026
09:18
Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants
Published on: December 20, 2011
[Pain indicators in newborns]
Slobodan Spasojević1, Aleksandra Bregun-Doronjski
1Institut za zdravstvenu zastitu dece i omladine Vojvodine, Novi Sad. sspas@ptt.yu
Medicinski Pregled
|September 19, 2008
Summary
Pain in newborns is often overlooked due to the inability to self-report. Understanding neonatal pain indicators is crucial for proper management and prevention of adverse outcomes during this critical brain development period.
Area of Science:
- Pain perception and management in neonates.
- Neuroscience and developmental biology.
- Medical and nursing care for newborns.
Context:
- Neonatal pain perception and its management have been historically neglected.
- Newborns are in a critical window of brain development, making them vulnerable to pain's effects.
- The lack of self-reporting in newborns complicates the assessment and treatment of pain.
Purpose:
- To highlight the significance of neonatal pain.
- To discuss the challenges in assessing pain in newborns.
- To introduce various indicators used for neonatal pain assessment.
Summary:
- Pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience. Newborns exhibit physiological and behavioral changes in response to painful stimuli.
- Indicators for neonatal pain include contextual, developmental, physiological (heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation), and behavioral (facial expression, cry) measures.
- No single ideal pain indicator exists; multiple indicators are used to construct neonatal pain scales.
Impact:
- Emphasizes the need for improved understanding and management of pain in newborns.
- Underscores the potential for short-term and long-term negative consequences due to inadequate pain management.
- Promotes the development and utilization of comprehensive neonatal pain assessment tools.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:24Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers
Local anesthetics (LAs) block the sodium channels of nerve trunks, sensory nerve endings, and neuromuscular junctions. Although LAs can block all kinds of nerves, the sensitivity of nerve fibers differs according to nerve types and structures. LAs are known to block myelinated fibers faster than unmyelinated ones. Also, they block pain or sensory neurons at low concentrations without affecting the motor neurons involved in muscle contractions. This helps relieve labor pain without affecting the...
01:14Temperature Measurement Sites
A thermometer measures body temperature. The common sites for measuring body temperature are the oral cavity, axillary region, temporal artery, and skin surface, such as the forehead, abdomen, and axilla. True core body temperature is assessed in the rectum, tympanic membrane, pulmonary artery, esophagus, and urinary bladder.
Oral: When assessing oral temperature, the thermometer tip should be placed under the tongue in the posterior sublingual pocket. It offers accurate readings and can be...
Oral: When assessing oral temperature, the thermometer tip should be placed under the tongue in the posterior sublingual pocket. It offers accurate readings and can be...
01:22Appendicitis-I: Introduction
The appendix, a small, narrow, blind tube extending from the inferior part of the cecum, is widely regarded as a vestigial organ, having lost much of its original function through evolution. Despite its diminished role, the appendix can become inflamed, a condition known as appendicitis.
Etiology: Appendicitis can arise from various causes, primarily rooted in the obstruction of the appendix lumen. Factors contributing to this obstruction include fecal accumulation, lymphoid hyperplasia and, in...
Etiology: Appendicitis can arise from various causes, primarily rooted in the obstruction of the appendix lumen. Factors contributing to this obstruction include fecal accumulation, lymphoid hyperplasia and, in...