Pain score assessment in babies undergoing laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity under sub-tenon anaesthesia

Purpose To assess the tolerability and outcomes of laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) under sub-tenon anaesthetic with oral or rectal sedation using a reliable, multidimensional, and internationally accepted tool for assessment of neonatal pain.Methods Sixty-two babies have had ROP laser treatment in our neonatal unit in the 7-year interval between 1 March 2005 and 28 February 2012; 44% (27 of the 62) were performed using sub-tenon anaesthesia. Pain scores were routinely assessed using the Neonatal Pain Agitation and Sedation Scale (N-PASS) every 10 min during laser treatment. The outcome and requirement for re-treatment in this group was compared with that in the intravenous sedation group.Results Pain scores were available in 19 of the 27 babies treated under sub-tenon anaesthesia. The mean pain score during treatment was 2.7 (SD±1.7, range 0.5–6.2). There was no statistically significant correlation between the mean pain score and duration of treatment (Spearman correlation coefficient (ρ) = 0.31; P = 0.09), number of laser burns (ρ = 0.32; P = 0.09), or post-menstrual age of the baby at the time of treatment (ρ = 0.38; P = 0.052). Treatments performed under sub-tenon anaesthesia were as successful as those performed under intravenous sedation. The mean pain scores during laser treatment under sub-tenon anaesthesia in our study were lower than those previously reported during ROP screening or heel-stick procedure.Conclusion Our study demonstrated that sub-tenon anaesthesia with oral or rectal sedation provides sufficient pain control for laser treatment for ROP without the need or risks of intravenous sedation and intubation.     

三种量表用于新生儿术后疼痛评估的信效度分析

目的：比较CRIES量表 (Cries, Requires Oxygen, Increased Vital Signs, Expression, Sleeplessness , CRIES)、早产儿疼痛评估量表(Premature Infant Pain Profile, PIPP)和新生儿疼痛、躁动及镇静评估量表（Neonatal Pain, Agitation and Sedation Scale , N-PASS）用于新生儿术后疼痛评估的信度和效度,以找出信效度最高的新生儿术后疼痛评估量表。方法：采用便利抽样法,选取2019年08月至2020年1月重庆市某三甲儿童医院67例术后新生儿作为研究对象,通过一般资料调查表和床旁录像进行资料收集,使用3种量表对每例患者术后1、2、4、8、12、24小时进行共2412次疼痛评估。运用相关分析、信度分析、主成分分析和探索性因子分析对3种量表的信度和效度进行评价。结果：CRIES、PIPP、N-PASS的Cronbach’s α系数分别为0.906,0.769,0.915;重测信度分别为0.917,0.753,0.919;效标效度分别为0.887,0.874,0.920;探索性因子分析分别提取了1、2、2个公因子,累计方差贡献率分别为72.717%,71.133%,87.252%。结论：N-PASS量表信度和效度高于CRIES量表和PIPP量表,更适合用于评估新生儿术后疼痛。     

Skin conductance measurements as pain assessment in newborn infants born at 22-27 weeks gestational age at different postnatal age

Background

To assess pain or stress in newborn infants submitted to intensive care is important but difficult, as different observational pain scales are not always reliable in premature infants. As an indicator of pain, skin conductance (SC) measurements have detected increased sweating in newborn infants > 28 gestational age (GA) submitted to heel lancing.

Objective

To measure SC during heel lancing and routine care in newborn infants, born at 22 to 27 GA, with special relation to postnatal age (PNA).

Methods

In six infants < 28 + 0 GA and 4 infants ≥ 28 + 0 GA spontaneous SC activity and behavioural state (Neonatal Pain Agitation and Sedation Scale (N-PASS)) was measured before, during and after each intervention. Measurements were repeated in each patient at different PNA.

Results

Baseline SC prior to intervention took longer time to stabilise and was higher in < 28 than in ≥ 28 + 0 PNA. The combination of heel lancing and squeezing gave an increased SC in < 28 PNA, whereas heel lancing alone gave the same SC response in ≥ 28 + 0 PNA. A possibly continued immature response in SC measurements was not observed. Oral glucose admission prior to heel lancing increased SC. Routine care did not give any changes in SC. Except during orogastric tube placement no signs of discomfort or pain could be detected by the neonatal pain, agitation and sedation scale (N-PASS) in < 28 PNA.

Conclusion

Changes in SC could be detected in infants at < 28 + 0 PNA and related to the combination of heel lancing and squeezing. A maturational development of the SC was observed in infants born < 28 GA. SC seems to be able to differentiate between pain and discomfort.