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Updated: Aug 4, 2026
Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants
Published on: December 20, 2011
Reduction of pain response in premature infants using intraoral sucrose
L A Ramenghi1, C M Wood, G C Griffith
1Division of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Leeds School of Medicine.
Insights
Sucrose effectively reduces pain in premature infants. This study found that oral sucrose significantly decreased crying duration and pain scores during heel lance procedures.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pain management
- Pediatric pharmacology
Background:
- Premature infants experience significant pain during routine procedures.
- Effective and safe pain management strategies are crucial for this vulnerable population.
- Oral sucrose has shown promise as an analgesic in neonates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of sucrose in mitigating pain responses in healthy premature infants.
- To quantify the analgesic effect of sucrose during a painful neonatal procedure.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind, crossover study design was employed.
- Fifteen premature infants (32-34 weeks postmenstrual age) received either 25% sucrose solution or sterile water orally.
- Pain response was assessed via cry duration and facial grimacing (pain score) following heel lancing.
Main Results:
- Sucrose administration led to a significant reduction in the duration of the initial cry.
- A notable decrease was observed in the percentage of time spent crying post-heel prick.
- Pain scores, based on facial expression, were significantly lower in the sucrose-treated group.
Conclusions:
- Oral sucrose demonstrates significant analgesic properties in healthy premature infants.
- Sucrose offers a safe and effective non-pharmacological approach to pain relief in this population.
- These findings support the routine use of sucrose for procedural pain management in neonates.
Abstract:
The potential of sucrose to reduce the pain response in a group of healthy premature infants was investigated. Fifteen infants of 32-34 weeks postmenstrual age were tested in a blind crossover manner on two separate occasions no more than two days apart. Either 1 ml of 25% sucrose solution or sterile water was syringed into the baby's mouth 2 minutes before routine heel lancing. Response to the painful stimuli was measured by duration of cry and by facial expression (pain score). There was a significant reduction in the duration of first cry, the percentage of time spent crying in the 5 minutes after heel prick, and the pain score in the sucrose treated group. It is concluded that sucrose has analgesic effects in healthy premature infants.
