Assessment of pain with different neonatal procedures

pain in newborn is a very complex subject. Before the year 1980, neonatal pain was infrequently recognized, appreciated and treated. The pioneering work of dedicated clinicians and scientists in the last three decades, both in laboratories as well as clinical situations has established that neonates perceive pain, express pain and have the right for proper pain management (Anand and Whithall, 2009). Still, infants continue to be exposed to far too much pain that is preventable and treatable (Suson Ludington, 2005).Assessment of pain in neonates admitted to NICU and outpatient clinic with different procedures.- Gender and postnatal age were not correlated with pain responses.- The mean PIPP for all gestational age was 7.74  4.08.- The mean PIPP scores were 10.2  4.54 for 26 - 32 week GA and 5.23  3.37 for 36 - 40 weeks GA and 7.71  4.33 for 32 to 35 weeks GA (F= 4.72  P  0.05).- Gestational age was significantly negative correlated with total scores of infants on the PIPP.- The behavior state of the infant before the procedure significantly correlated with the total scores of infants on the PIPP (P  0.01).- There was significant increase in heart rate and significant decrease in oxygen saturations.- There was a significant change on the three behavioural responses.- Out of 200 neonates 24% of procedures were assessed as mildly painful (N= 48), 48% of procedures (N = 95) were assessed as moderately painful, while 28% of procedures (N = 57) were assessed as severally painful.