Procedural pain guidelines for the newborn in the United Kingdom

Abstract

To assess the use of analgesia guidelines for newborn infants in the United Kingdom. Postal questionnaire to every neonatal unit in the United Kingdom. A total of 192 of 244 units replied (78.7% response). Most units had a guideline for elective intubation (70%), sedation for ventilation (78%) post-operative pain (when appropriate) (74%). Less prevalent were guidelines for painful minor procedures (35%). Only 33% of units gave a sweet-tasting solution for analgesia before routine painful procedures and 12% used a topical anesthetic cream. Since the last survey in 2000 there has been a modest increased uptake in measures to prevent pain neonatal pain in the United Kingdom, but no pain guideline was present in almost 25% of units and no guideline for routine painful procedures in the majority.