Biomaterial Database

Practical approach to analgesia and sedation in the neonatal intensive care unit. 1998

G Menon, and K J Anand, and N McIntosh

Department of Child Life and Health, University of Edinburgh, Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion, Scotland, UK.

The anatomic and physiological bases for nociception are present even in very preterm neonates. Neonates show the same behavioral, endocrine, and metabolic responses to noxious stimuli as older subjects. Preterm infants appear to be more sensitive to painful stimuli and have heightened responses to successive stimuli. Infants receiving intensive care are subjected to frequent stressful procedures and also chronic noxious influences related to the environment of care. Inflammatory conditions such as necrotizing enterocolitis may also cause pain. Untreated pain in babies is associated with increased major morbidity and mortality. Nonpharmacological interventions, including environmental modification and comforting during procedures reduce stress. Intravenous opiates are the mainstay of pharmacological analgesia. A pure sedative agent can provide physiological stability in settings in which there are less acutely painful stimuli or when there are adverse effects from, or tolerance to, opiates. Local anesthesia of skin and mucous membranes is helpful for invasive procedures. Antipyretic analgesics such as acetaminophen have a role in inflammatory pain.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006993	Hypnotics and Sedatives	Drugs used to induce drowsiness or sleep or to reduce psychological excitement or anxiety.	Hypnotic,Sedative,Sedative and Hypnotic,Sedatives,Hypnotic Effect,Hypnotic Effects,Hypnotics,Sedative Effect,Sedative Effects,Sedatives and Hypnotics,Effect, Hypnotic,Effect, Sedative,Effects, Hypnotic,Effects, Sedative,Hypnotic and Sedative
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007234	Infant, Premature	A human infant born before 37 weeks of GESTATION.	Neonatal Prematurity,Premature Infants,Preterm Infants,Infant, Preterm,Infants, Premature,Infants, Preterm,Premature Infant,Prematurity, Neonatal,Preterm Infant
D010146	Pain	An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by NERVE ENDINGS of NOCICEPTIVE NEURONS.	Suffering, Physical,Ache,Pain, Burning,Pain, Crushing,Pain, Migratory,Pain, Radiating,Pain, Splitting,Aches,Burning Pain,Burning Pains,Crushing Pain,Crushing Pains,Migratory Pain,Migratory Pains,Pains, Burning,Pains, Crushing,Pains, Migratory,Pains, Radiating,Pains, Splitting,Physical Suffering,Physical Sufferings,Radiating Pain,Radiating Pains,Splitting Pain,Splitting Pains,Sufferings, Physical
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000698	Analgesia	Methods of PAIN relief that may be used with or in place of ANALGESICS.	Analgesias
D000700	Analgesics	Compounds capable of relieving pain without the loss of CONSCIOUSNESS.	Analgesic,Anodynes,Antinociceptive Agents,Analgesic Agents,Analgesic Drugs,Agents, Analgesic,Agents, Antinociceptive,Drugs, Analgesic
D015931	Intensive Care, Neonatal	Continuous care and monitoring of newborn infants with life-threatening conditions, in any setting.	Infant, Newborn, Intensive Care,Neonatal Intensive Care,Care, Neonatal Intensive
D016292	Conscious Sedation	A drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients respond purposefully to verbal commands, either alone or accompanied by light tactile stimulation. No interventions are required to maintain a patent airway. (From: American Society of Anesthesiologists Practice Guidelines)	Sedation, Conscious,Sedation, Moderate,Moderate Sedation