J Korean Pediatr Soc.  1999 May;42(5):650-656.

Study of the Analgesic Effect of Sucrose and Non-sucrose Sweet Substances(Aspartam, Dextrose) in Full Term Neonates

• Kim DS
• O MH
• Sim JG
• Kim KH
• Kim MH

Abstract

PURPOSE: During the first days of life, neonates born in Korean hospitals typically encounter a number of stressful and painful events. In recent investigations, it was shown that there is a dose-response effect of increasing concentration of sucrose, resulting in reduction in crying time in healthy full-term infants. We assessed the use of sucrose to reduce pain in neonates with routine blood sampling by heel prick and the use of non-sucrose sweet substances(Aspartam), Dexrtose which we use to reduce pain in neonates with the same procedure.
METHODS
A total of 135 neonates born in the KonKuk University Hospital were randomly assigned to 9 experimental groups. 2ml of the test solution was given by syringe into the infant's mouth over less than one minute. After 2 minutes, the nurse lanced the infants heel immediately and gently squeezed two times, and then a bandage was applied to the wound and the foot released. Crying during sampling and during the three minutes after sampling(recovery phase) was recorded on audio tape and later the duration of crying was analysed blindly.
RESULTS
There was a significant reduction in total crying time as compared with the controls. There was a significant reduction in first crying time as compared with the controls. There was a significant reduction in crying time at the end of each minute in all the groups as compared with the controls. There was no significant difference in heart rate and oxygen saturation.
CONCLUSION
We conclude that sucrose, aspartam and dextrose induce an effective analgesic effect in neonates.

Keyword

Sucrose; Aspartam; Dextrose; Analgesic effect; Crying time

MeSH Terms

Bandages
Crying
Foot
Glucose
Heart Rate
Heel
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn*
Mouth
Oxygen
Sucrose*
Syringes
Wounds and Injuries
Glucose
Oxygen
Sucrose