Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Review of Treatment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a collection of symptoms that neonates may experience following antenatal exposure to substances that induce withdrawal. Optimal management remains unknown, and there is variation in management and outcomes.

To describe the management, length of hospitalization, and adverse events in near-term and full-term neonates with NAS for whom treatment (pharmacotherapy and/or supportive care) was initiated in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

A chart review was conducted of neonates admitted to the NICU of Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, British Columbia, who received treatment for NAS between September 1, 2016, and September 1, 2021.

A total of 48 neonates met the inclusion criteria. Opioids represented the most frequent type of antenatal exposure. Polysubstance exposures occurred in 45 (94%) of the neonates. Morphine was given to 29 (60%) of the neonates, and phenobarbital to 6 (13%); 5 of these neonates received both medications. The average duration of morphine treatment was 14 days, and the average length of hospitalization (all patients) was 16 days. All of the neonates experienced adverse events; in particular, 9 (30%) of the 30 who received pharmacotherapy were too sedated to feed, compared with 0% of the 18 with no pharmacotherapy.

The common finding of polysubstance antenatal exposure, involving predominantly opioids, was associated with scheduled morphine pharmacotherapy for the majority of patients, prolonged hospitalization, and frequent adverse events. Pharmacotherapy for NAS was associated with levels of sedation that interfered with feeding in neonates.