[Glucose as an analgesic in neonatology. A blind randomized controlled study]

The aim of this study is the evaluation of the effect of different oral glucose solutions on the pain response after heelstick in newborns. Four groups of healthy newborns (gestational age 38-41 weeks, weight over 2500 g) were randomly allocated to receive 2 ml of water (19 cases) or glucose 5% solution (17 cases) or glucose 33% solution (15 cases) or nothing (control group, 14 cases) immediately before heelstick procedure. The cardiac rate of each newborn was registered before, during and 3 minutes after the procedure. Glucose 33% solution reduces the pain response (p < 0.01).