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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants

Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants

Published on: December 20, 2011

Sensorial saturation for infants' pain.

Carlo Valerio Bellieni¹, Monica Tei, Francesca Coccina

¹Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproduction Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.

The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine : the Official Journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians

|February 21, 2012

Summary

Sensorial saturation (SS) effectively relieves neonatal pain during procedures. This multisensorial stimulation is more effective than oral solutions alone, promoting nurse-infant interaction.

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Area of Science:

Neonatal care
Pain management

Background:

Sensorial saturation (SS) is a multisensorial stimulation involving tactile, gustative, auditory, and visual stimuli.
The procedure includes facial massage, gentle vocalization, and administering a sweet solution to the infant's tongue.

Purpose of the Study:

To systematically review the effectiveness of sensorial saturation (SS) in managing neonatal pain.

Main Methods:

A systematic Medline search was conducted for human neonatal studies on SS.
The search focused on articles published within the last 10 years, up to January 2012.

Main Results:

Eight articles utilized complete SS, and two used incomplete SS.
Complete SS effectively relieved newborn pain, outperforming oral solutions alone.
Partial SS showed some effectiveness, but less than complete SS; stimuli without sweet solution were ineffective.

Conclusions:

Sensorial saturation (SS) is a safe and effective analgesic for newborns undergoing minor painful procedures like blood draws.
SS is superior to oral sugar alone for pain relief.
SS enhances nurse-infant interaction and is a valuable tool in neonatal intensive care units.