Skin conductance and the stress response from heel stick in preterm infants

Aim-To evaluate whether spontaneous skin conductance activity is an objecti ve method for measuring the stress response to painful stimuli in premature infants. The number and amplitude of the waves and the baseline increase w ith the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Methods-In 20 preterm infants of gestational age greater than or equal to 2 9 weeks, behavioural state and spontaneous skin conductance activity variab les were measured for three minutes before, during, and for three minutes a fter heel stick. Results-The number of waves (p < 0.001), the amplitude of the waves (p = 0. 001), and the level of the behavioural state (p < 0.001) increased during h eel stick, and then decreased to levels found before the procedure. The bas eline increased both during (p < 0.001) and after heel stick (p < 0.001), c ompared with levels before. Conclusion-Spontaneous skin conductance activity reflects the stress respon se to heel stick in premature infants from at least 29 weeks of gestational age.