Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 16, 2026

Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
11:50

Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Published on: January 7, 2020

27.9K

Effectiveness of Sucrose Used Routinely for Pain Relief and Neonatal Clinical Risk in Preterm Infants: A

Beatriz O Valeri1, Cláudia M Gaspardo1, Francisco E Martinez2

  • 1Departments of Neurosciences and Behavior.

The Clinical Journal of Pain
|January 5, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Routine sucrose effectively reduces pain in preterm infants (PI) regardless of their clinical risk. This pain relief strategy improves biobehavioral regulation during painful procedures in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Pain management
  • Biobehavioral research

Background:

  • Preterm infants (PI) in neonatal intensive care units experience significant pain and distress.
  • The interaction between pain relief strategies and infant clinical health status is not well understood.
  • This study investigates the effects of sucrose intervention and neonatal clinical risk (NCR) on pain responses in PI.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the main and interactive effects of sucrose intervention and NCR on biobehavioral pain reactivity and recovery in preterm infants.
  • To assess how pain relief strategies influence pain responses in relation to illness severity.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of routine sucrose for pain management in neonates.

Main Methods:

  • 104 very low birth weight preterm infants were categorized into low and high neonatal clinical risk (NCR) groups.
  • Infants received either 25% sucrose solution or standard care before painful procedures.
  • Biobehavioral pain responses were assessed using facial coding, sleep-wake state, crying time, and heart rate across five phases.

Main Results:

  • Sucrose significantly reduced facial pain responses and crying time, independent of NCR.
  • All infants showed heightened arousal during the painful puncture and decreased responses during recovery.
  • No significant effects of sucrose or NCR were observed on physiological reactivity (heart rate), with all infants showing recovery to baseline.

Conclusions:

  • Routine sucrose intervention is effective in reducing pain intensity during acute painful procedures for preterm infants.
  • Sucrose enhances biobehavioral regulation in preterm infants, irrespective of their neonatal clinical risk level.
  • Pain relief strategies can be tailored based on clinical risk to improve outcomes for preterm infants.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

88.1K
Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs08:58

Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs

Published on: October 31, 2025

673

Related Concept Videos

Aneurysm II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:21

Aneurysm II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Thoracic, aortic arch and abdominal aneurysms are significant vascular conditions that can present with various clinical manifestations and lead to serious complications. Understanding these manifestations and the appropriate diagnostic studies is essential for effective management and treatment.Thoracic Aortic AneurysmsThoracic aortic aneurysms often remain asymptomatic until they reach a size that impinges on adjacent structures. They typically cause deep, diffuse chest pain that radiates to...
386
Relative Risk01:12

Relative Risk

Relative risk (RR) is a statistical measure commonly used in epidemiology to compare the likelihood of a particular event occurring between two groups. This metric is important for evaluating the relationship between exposure to a specific risk factor and the probability of a particular outcome. It plays a crucial role in medical research, public health studies, and risk assessment. Relative risk quantifies how much more (or less) likely an event is to occur in an exposed group compared to an...
2.2K
Pain01:20

Pain

Pain serves as a critical warning signal that alerts the body to potential or actual harm. When mechanical pressure on the skin is intense, such as from a sharp pinch, the sensation transitions from touch to pain. Similarly, extreme temperatures, like a hot pot handle, convert the sensation of heat into pain. Pain can also result from overstimulation of other senses, such as blinding light, loud noise, or the intense heat from habañero peppers. This ability to sense pain is essential for...
1.5K
Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:30

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...
614
Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:20

Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key difference between Superficial Vein Thrombosis (SVT) and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) lies in their location and severity.Clinical ManifestationsSVT typically presents with localized pain, tenderness, and redness along the course of a superficial vein, often accompanied by a palpable, cord-like structure under the skin. This condition is usually less dangerous than DVT but can be uncomfortable and may lead to complications such as cellulitis or, rarely, a clot extension into the deep...
354
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
13.9K