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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
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Neonatal abstinence syndrome: therapeutic interventions

Juli Sublett1

  • 1University Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Cincinnati, OH, USA. juliannsublett@gmail.com

MCN. the American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing
|November 29, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a severe condition in infants exposed to drugs during pregnancy. This review examines the safety and efficacy of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments for NAS, highlighting knowledge gaps.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)
  • Pediatric Pharmacology
  • Neonatal Care

Background:

  • NAS affects infants exposed to opiates/illicit drugs in utero, causing severe symptoms and prolonged hospitalizations.
  • Pharmacologic treatments like methadone, buprenorphine, morphine, and phenobarbital are common but lack fully recognized safety/efficacy data.
  • Nonpharmacologic and complementary therapies are documented but under-researched for neonatal withdrawal.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of pharmacologic and complementary therapies for NAS.
  • To assess the potential risks, benefits, and outcomes of these treatments in neonates.
  • To identify and illustrate gaps in the current literature regarding NAS therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of pharmacologic interventions for NAS.
  • Review of nonpharmacologic and complementary therapies for neonatal withdrawal.
  • Analysis of existing data on safety, efficacy, and outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Pharmacologic treatments are widely used but their safety and efficacy require further investigation.
  • Nonpharmacologic and complementary therapies show promise but lack comprehensive research.
  • Significant gaps exist in understanding the full spectrum of treatment options and their impact.

Conclusions:

  • Further research is crucial to establish evidence-based guidelines for NAS treatment.
  • A comprehensive understanding of both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches is needed.
  • Addressing knowledge gaps will improve care and outcomes for infants with NAS.

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