Repeated painful stimuli may affect pain response in neonates of more than 34 weeks post-conceptional age: A case control study

Objective: To evaluate the effect of repeated painful stimuli on pain response in neonates of more than 34 weeks post conceptional age.

Method: A case control study was done. Cases comprised neonates more than 34 weeks gestational age having more than ten repeated painful procedures. Controls include age and sex matched neonates with less than three painful procedures. The outcome variables were the duration of cry and Modified Facial Coding Score (MFCS) after intramuscular injection.

Results: A total of 100 neonates were enrolled (50 as cases and 50 as controls). Median (interquartile range) of duration of cry in case and control groups was 26 (20-48 seconds) and 30.5 (20-78 seconds) respectively (p >0.05). MFCS score at immediate, 1 and 3 minutes was not statistically significant in the two groups (p >0.05).

Conclusions: Exposure to frequent painful stimuli in early neonatal life may not significantly alter pain response in neonates more than 34 weeks post conceptional age.

Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2019; 48(3): 251-255