Behavioral and physiologic response to pain in neonates

ABSTRACT

This study was done to assess the physiological and behavioral response to pain. Eighty healthy neonates [47 male, 33 female] less than 7 days of age, requiring bilirubin estimation, blood sugar etc. were randomly assigned for venous puncture. They were classified equally according to weight into Group I [<2.5 Kg] and Group II [> 2.5 Kg]. All pararneters were recorded 10 minutes prior, and during the procedure. Neonatal Infant Pain Scale [NIPS] score and Respiratory Rate [RR], Heart Rate [HR], Non-Invasive Blood Pressure [NIBP] and O2 saturation were observed on Nihon-Kohden multimonitor. During the venepuncture, heart rate [p<0.001] and blood pressure [p<0.001] were significantly in creased in both groups but more significant increase was present in Group I [<2.5kg] as compared to Group II [>2.5kg]. Respiratory rate was also increased in both groups but more significantly in Group II [p<0.001], whereas Oxygen saturation decreased in both groups but more significantly in Group I [p<0.001]. Median NIPS score was higher in both Groups [p<0.001]. These measures appear to be reliable indices of term neonates responses to painful stimulation. NIPS is a suitable method for neonatal pain evaluation