REDUCTION OF PAIN RESPONSE IN PREMATURE-INFANTS USING INTRAORAL SUCROSE

The potential of sucrose to reduce the pain response in a group of hea lthy premature infants was investigated. Fifteen infants of 32-34 week s postmenstrual age were tested in a blind crossover manner on two sep arate occasions no more than two days apart. Either 1 ml of 25% sucros e solution or sterile water was syringed into the baby's mouth 2 minut es before routine heel lancing. Response to the painful stimuli was me asured by duration of cry and by facial expression (pain score). There was a significant reduction in the duration of first cry, the percent age of time spent crying in the 5 minutes after heel prick, and the pa in score in the sucrose treated group. It is concluded that sucrose ha s analgesic effects in healthy premature infants.