Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2025
A Preterm Rat Model for Pain Studies
Published on: February 9, 2024
Post-procedure pain in preterm neonates undergoing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening: a prospective cohort
Raman Singla1, Ankit Verma2, Vivek Kumar1
1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Objective:
To evaluate the pain intensity in preterm infants during 48 h post retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening by binocular fundoscopy.
Design:
Prospective cohort study.
Settings:
Level-III-NICU in India.
Participants:
83 Neonates undergoing first ROP screening.
Main Outcome Measures:
Pain assessment using the premature infant pain profile-revised (PIPP-R) score at baseline and 5 min, 30 min, 6 h, 24 h, and 48 h post-procedure.
Results:
The mean gestation and birth weight was 29.8 (2.3) weeks and 1256 (344)g respectively. The median (IQR) PIPP-R score at baseline was 0 which significantly increased to 10.5 (8,12.5) 5 min (immediately) after the procedure. At 30 min and 6 h, scores were 7 (5,8) and 4.5 (3,5.5) respectively. After 24 h and 48 h, it decreased to 3 (0,5) and 0 (0,4.5) respectively. Nearly 59% (95%CI:40%-83%) of neonates had severe pain (PIPP-R score > 12) immediately after procedure.
Conclusion:
A majority of neonates experience severe pain immediately after ROP screening, and mild-moderate pain continues for 6 h. Hence, an additional pharmacological agent should be considered for reducing neonatal pain.
