Oral Glucose Solution as Pain Relief in Newborns: Results of a Clinical Trial

This study investigates which concentration of glucose is most effective in reducing pain for venipuncture in the newborn.

This double-blind clinical trial is conducted on a maternity and newborn (N*) ward. Each time, during at least one month, one of the four selected solutions (glucose 10%, 20%, 30% and placebo) will be administered orally, 2 minutes prior to the venipuncture. The pain from the skin puncture will be scored using a validated pain scale (the "Leuven" pain scale).

• Other: glucose 10%
  2 minutes prior to the venipuncture, a 10% glucose concentration was administered orally
• Other: 20% glucose
  2 minutes prior to the venipuncture, a 20% glucose concentration was administered orally
• Other: glucose 30%
  2 minutes prior to the venipuncture, a 30% glucose concentration was administered orally
• Other: sterile water
  2 minutes prior to the venipuncture, sterile water was administered orally

• Experimental: 1
  glucose 10%
  Intervention: Other: glucose 10%
• Experimental: 2
  glucose 20%
  Intervention: Other: 20% glucose
• Experimental: 3
  glucose 30%
  Intervention: Other: glucose 30%
• Placebo Comparator: 4
  placebo: sterile water
  Intervention: Other: sterile water

Inclusion criteria

• Neonates were included if they had to undergo a venipuncture as part of routine medical care.

Exclusion criteria

• Unstable neonates with respiratory support as well as neonates with a proven neurological abnormality were excluded.
• Newborns who had been administered sedatives, analgesics or naloxone during the past 48 hours were excluded along with premature infants younger than 32 weeks post menstrual age.