Neurophysiological and behavioral measures of pain during neonatal hip examination

• Introduction: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that neonatal hip ex ‐amination causes pain in newborns. Pain assessment using instruments such as the Premature Infant Pain Profile‐Revised (PIPP‐R) scale is recommended, but recently physiological and neurophysiological measures, for example, near‐infrared spectros‐copy (NIRS) and galvanic skin response (GSR), have been used as well.Methods: Heart auscultation and hip examination were performed, and the response of the newborn was registered by NIRS optodes, GSR electrodes, and a pulse oxime‐ter probe attached to the infant. The face of the newborn was filmed. Heart ausculta‐tion was used as a nonpainful reference.Results: The pain scores for hip examination were higher than for the heart ausculta‐tion. Near‐infrared spectroscopy showed a significant higher increase from baseline in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) on both sides of the cortex at hip examination compared with at heart auscultation (P = .011 and P= .017). Mean PIPP‐R scores for the hip examination compared with heart auscultation increased from 3.0 to 8.1 (P = .000). The GSR analyses of hip examination compared with heart auscultation showed a significant increase in area under small peaks during the hip examination (P = .016), however, not when measured in peaks per second (P = .104). Interrater reliability was calculated for the NIRS interpretations, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) range of 0.93‐1.0 (P = .000).Discussion: Pain in newborns can have negative consequences, and pain prevention and treatment are therefore important. We conclude that neonatal hip examinations are painful and that the pain should be treated, for example, with oral sweet solution. This is a change from present routines during neonatal hip examination and is hoped to lead to a change in national guidelines.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Pediatrik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Pediatrics (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Neonatal hip examination

neonatal pain

Pediatrik

Pediatrics

Caring Sciences w. Medical Focus

Omvårdnadsforskning med medicinsk inriktning

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)