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Neonatal Pain, Still Searching for the Optimal Approach

Elizabeth Walter-Nicolet1, Laurent Calvel2,3, Geraldine Gazzo3

  • 1Medicine and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Groupe hospitalier Paris Saint Joseph. Paris, France.

Current Pharmaceutical Design
|October 20, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal pain management has improved, but significant gaps persist in assessment, prevention, and treatment. Optimizing care is crucial for infant well-being and brain development.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Pain management
  • Developmental neuroscience

Background:

  • Despite advancements, a knowledge-practice gap exists in neonatal pain management.
  • Neonatal pain significantly impacts infant well-being and long-term development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of neonatal pain management.
  • To highlight existing challenges and areas for improvement in clinical practice.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review encompassing pain physiopathology and sex differences.
  • Analysis of epidemiological data and treatment approaches.
  • Evaluation of non-pharmacological, developmental care, and pharmacological strategies, including pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Main Results:

  • Knowledge in neonatal pain has increased, yet practical application remains insufficient.
  • Deficiencies noted in pain assessment, prevention, and treatment protocols for painful procedures.
  • Need for optimized drug selection and dosing to support infant brain development.

Conclusions:

  • Persistent gaps in neonatal pain management require urgent attention.
  • Addressing these gaps is critical for improving outcomes in this vulnerable population.
  • Further research and clinical guidelines are needed to enhance pain management strategies.
Abstract

Keywords:
Painanalgesic treatmentsdevelopmental care.epidemiologyneonatephysiopathologysex-differences

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