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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Insights
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) affects many infants exposed to opioids. Standardized care and validated assessment tools are needed to improve management and infant outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Opioid use has increased significantly, leading to more in-utero exposures.
- Infants exposed to opioids in-utero are at high risk for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS).
- NAS management requires hospitalization for 55% to 94% of affected infants.
Observation:
- Current assessment tools like the Finnegan scoring system are not validated and can be difficult to use.
- There is a lack of standardized care plans for NAS management.
- Both non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions lack standardization across institutions.
Findings:
- Infants with NAS require careful monitoring for withdrawal symptoms.
- Determining the need for and type of treatment is crucial for NAS management.
- Preparing infants for discharge requires stabilization and appropriate follow-up.
Implications:
- Development of standardized care plans for NAS is essential.
- Validated and user-friendly assessment tools are needed for accurate NAS diagnosis.
- Improved management strategies can enhance outcomes for infants with NAS and their families.
Abstract:
Opioid use and abuse have skyrocketed in the United States over the last decade. As a result, we have seen a substantial increase in neonates who are exposed to opioids in-utero. Anywhere from 55% to 94% of infants exposed to opioids will experience withdrawal, known as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), and will require management of their symptoms in the hospital. It is important to know what to look for in an infant who is experiencing NAS, how to determine if treatment is needed and what type of treatment is indicated, and how to prepare the infant for discharge once they are stable. Unfortunately, there are no standardized care plans in place for the management of this population. Although assessment tools such as the Finnegan scoring systems are available, they are not validated and can be cumbersome and difficult to administer. Other methods of assessment are being studied and may prove to be more useful in the clinical setting of neonatal withdrawal. Neither nonpharmacologic nor pharmacologic interventions are standardized, with individual institutions determining their plan of care. Development of more standardized care could significantly improve the management of these patients. [Pediatr Ann. 2020;49(1):e3-e7.].
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