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Review: Sucrose lowers pain response in infants
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A review of dozens of published studies has shown that sucrose or other sweet solutions administered to infants before painful procedures lower pain responses.
Denise Harrison, RN, of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, and colleagues said although sucrose consistently is associated with reduced pain responses during painful procedures and sucrose use is widely recommended, “these recommendations have not been translated into consistent use in clinical practice.”
In their review, Harrison and colleagues noted some gaps in information on dosing sucrose, and made some suggestions for use, including: “using small volumes of sucrose for painful procedures only; avoiding use for calming irritable infants who are not undergoing procedures; giving solutions in aliquots over the duration of the procedure for prolonged procedures; avoiding use of 0.10 doses per 24 hours, especially during the first week of life; and using other effective strategies during painful procedures when feasible.”
The researchers said clinicians must address the reluctance to use sucrose and “address remaining areas of uncertainty.”
Harrison and colleagues also emphasized the need for clinical guidelines on the use of sucrose, including proper dosing recommendations when administered with opioid analgesics.
Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.
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