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ROP screening may be painful for newborns
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Ophthalmologic examinations of preterm infants for retinopathy of prematurity may be painful, a group of Spanish researchers said. Studies should be undertaken to identify the best strategy to prevent pain during the ROP screening procedure, they said.
Sylvia Belda and colleagues at the Hospital Doce de Octubre in Madrid assessed the side effects of retinopathy of prematurity screening, with specific emphasis on the occurrence of pain, in a group of 27 preterm infants. All neonates undergoing an ophthalmic exam during a 4-month period were included. Pain scores were taken before the exam, 5 minutes after the exam and 24 hours after the screening. Minimum oxygen saturation, apnea, gastrointestinal side effects, the need for respiratory assistance or for intensive care unit admission were recorded within 24 hours before and after the procedure.
Pain scores were significantly higher at 5 minutes and 24 hours after the screening procedure than before it. After stratifying for birthweight and gestational age, the difference remained. No other study variable modified the time effect. Vomiting was present in 4% of the newborns, gastric aspirates in 22% and apnea in 41% after the exam.
The study is published in Biology of the Neonate.