Evaluation of pain in healthy newborns and in newborns with developmental problems (Down syndrome)

Newborns are often subjected to invasive and painful medical procedures. This happens even more frequently when they require hospitalization. The aim of this paper was to evaluate pain in healthy newborns and in newborns with Down syndrome (DS). We performed a prospective cohort study in the neonatal service of the San Cecilio University Hospital in Granada (Spain) from January 2008 to September 2013. The universe of our study comprised a study group of 20 newborns with DS and a control group of 20 newborns without DS. All of the infants were hospitalized, and thus had to undergo painful medical procedures. The variables studied were basal recovery time (as reflected in crying and the normalization of biological constants), number of punctures, oxygen saturation, heartbeat, blood pressure, response to skin-to-skin contact, and gestational age. The evaluation was performed during blood extraction, vein canalization, and heel puncture. The significant differences in the basal recovery time between the two groups of newborns indicated that those with DS were slower to express pain, and when they did, their response was not as clearly defined as that of babies without DS. The oxygen saturation in babies with DS after the puncture was found to be significantly lower than that of the control group (p < .001). The results of this study revealed that babies with DS were not as quick to perceive pain after a puncture. However, when pain was finally perceived, it persisted for a longer time. This situation should be taken into account in the design of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies.