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A Preterm Rat Model for Pain Studies
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Preterm newborn pain research review.
1Touch Research Institute, University of Miami/Miller School of Medicine, United States; Fielding Graduate University, United States.
Infant Behavior & Development
|September 13, 2017
Summary
Preterm newborns experience numerous painful procedures, often without pain relief. This review highlights the significant short- and long-term developmental effects of this pain and discusses potential therapies.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Developmental Psychology
- Pain Management
Background:
- Preterm newborns undergo frequent painful procedures, with 79% receiving them without analgesia.
- A median of 75 painful procedures occur during hospitalization, averaging up to 51 per day.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current research on preterm newborn pain, including assessment methods, short- and long-term effects, and therapeutic interventions.
- To identify gaps in the research regarding the long-term impact of pain and the efficacy of various therapies.
Main Methods:
- A narrative review of literature from PubMed and PsycINFO.
- Focus on studies published within the last ten years regarding preterm newborn pain.
Main Results:
- Immediate effects include increased heart rate, oxidative stress, cortisol, and decreased vagal activity.
- Developmental outcomes show effects as early as 32 weeks gestation (lower body weight/head circumference) and by eight months (thinner gray matter, motor/cognitive delays).
- Longer-term effects at school age include reduced cortical thickness, lower vagal activity, impaired visual-perceptual development, lower IQs, and internalizing behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies like sucrose, nonnutritive sucking, and full-body interventions show promise for immediate pain relief.
- More research is needed on the routine use of non-pharmacological therapies for long-term pain reduction and additional randomized controlled trials.
