Sedation in the neonatal intensive care unit: International practice

Abstract

Inadequate pain management in neonatal life impairs neurodevelopmental outcome because it alters pain thresholds, pain- or stress-related behavior, and physiological responses later in life. However, there are recently also emerging animal experimental and human epidemiological data on the impact of analgo-sedatives on neuro-apoptosis and impaired neurodevelopmental outcome. As a consequence, the management of neonatal pain is in search of a new balance, and these conflicting observations are the main drivers to tailor our pain management in neonates. Adequate pain management is based on prevention, assessment, and treatment with subsequent reassessment. Issues related to prevention and assessment tools are covered. Non-pharmacological (e.g., complementary interventions like facilitated tucking, nonnutritive sucking) and pharmacological (e.g., acetaminophen, opioids, ketamine, propofol) treatment modalities were reviewed and reflect the increased knowledge on neonatal pain management. Each topic ends with some take-home messages that in part also reflect our opinion on the current status of this topic.