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Neonatal pain management

Brian S Carter1, Jessica Brunkhorst2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Medicine, 2401 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, MO 64108; Children׳s Mercy Bioethics Center, Kansas City, MO.

Seminars in Perinatology
|January 30, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Effective pain management in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) requires understanding pain scales, non-pharmacologic methods, and various medications. This review covers general principles, procedural pain, end-of-life care, chronic pain, and neonatal abstinence.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal intensive care
  • Pain management
  • Clinical practice

Background:

  • Pain management in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) presents significant challenges for clinicians.
  • Complex care situations further complicate effective pain control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review general principles of pain management applicable to neonatal intensive care.
  • To discuss the utility of pain scales, non-pharmacologic interventions, and pharmacologic agents.
  • To address specific contexts including procedural pain, end-of-life care, chronic pain, and neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of general pain management principles.
  • Synthesis of information on pain assessment tools (pain scales).
  • Overview of non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic pain management strategies.

Main Results:

  • Pain scales are crucial for assessing and monitoring pain in neonates.
  • Non-pharmacologic interventions offer a foundational approach to pain relief.
  • Various pharmacologic agents can be utilized for procedural pain, ongoing pain, and end-of-life care.

Conclusions:

  • Comprehensive pain management in the NICU involves a multimodal approach.
  • Addressing chronic pain and neonatal abstinence is essential for long-term infant well-being.
  • Clinicians need a thorough understanding of available pain management options.

Keywords:
End-of-Life CareNeonatalNeonatal Pain ManagementNeonatal Palliative CareNeonatal SedationPain Assessment

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