Better preemie pain relief sought amid new call for action

Heel sticks for blood tests, inserting IV tubes, adjusting breathing machines — even the gentlest jostling to remove a bandage from translucent skin can cause kitten-like whimpers and tiny arms and legs to suddenly jerk.

[...] even now, experts say, pain relief for newborns and especially preemies is often inadequate, despite evidence that low-tech comforting methods and medication can both be effective.

Preventing and reducing pain, particularly in preemies, is important because of the potential consequences for infant development, the academy said in a policy issued in February.

Research suggests repeated bouts of pain leave infants prone to potential long-term ill effects including changes in nerve structures and brain development, and hypersensitivity to touch and stress — and it’s the smallest and sickest babies who experience the greatest number of painful procedures.

Pain assessment can be a significant challenge in preemies, said newborn specialist Erin Keels, the policy’s lead author and a nurse at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.