Pain-relieving effect of sucrose in newborns during heel prick

We assessed the effect of sucrose as a pain reliever in a population of new borns when cuddled and comforted during heel prick for diagnosis of phenylk etonuria. In addition, the influences of gender, gestational age, postnatal age, ponderal index and behavioural state of the infant before the heel pr ick were studied, as judged by the neonatal infant pain scale (NIPS) score, on crying time (CT) and subsequent NIPS score. 100 healthy fullterm infant s were enrolled in this doubleblind, randomized controlled trial. Before th e heel prick, the newborns, when cuddled by the parent(s), were either give n 2 mi 50% sucrose solution or 2 mi sterile water. The sessions were videot aped and analyzed for determination of CT and NIPS scores. The frequency di stribution of CT showed a bimodal pattern in both the sucrose and the place bo groups. Sucrose significantly reduced CT and NIPS scores after the heel prick. No influence of gender, gestational age, postnatal age or ponderal i ndex on CT was found. NIPS scores before the heel prick correlated signific antly and positively with CT and subsequent NIPS scores in both the sucrose and the placebo groups. Intra-orally administered sucrose given before hee l prick can be recommended as a useful pain reliever. Furthermore, the find ings indicate that factors calming the newborn and creating low NIPS scores before the procedure can reduce the pain reaction equivalently and additiv ely to sucrose administration.