Search

To review all trials evaluating sweet solutions for analgesia in neonates and to conduct cumulative meta-analyses (CMAs) on behavioral pain outcomes” Harrison et al (2017).

Abstract:

CONTEXT: Abundant evidence of sweet taste analgesia in neonates exists, yet placebo-controlled trials continue to be conducted.

[ctt link=”95Na1″ template=”1″]ReTweet if useful… Sweet solutions to reduce procedural pain in neonates https://ctt.ec/95Na1+ @ivteam #ivteam[/ctt]

OBJECTIVE: To review all trials evaluating sweet solutions for analgesia in neonates and to conduct cumulative meta-analyses (CMAs) on behavioral pain outcomes.

DATA SOURCES: (1) Data from 2 systematic reviews of sweet solutions for newborns; (2) searches ending 2015 of CINAHL, Medline, Embase, and psychINFO.

DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors screened studies for inclusion, conducted risk-of-bias ratings, and extracted behavioral outcome data for CMAs. CMA was performed using random effects meta-analysis.

RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-eight studies were included; 148 (88%) included placebo/no-treatment arms. CMA for crying time included 29 trials (1175 infants). From the fifth trial in 2002, there was a statistically significant reduction in mean cry time for sweet solutions compared with placebo (−27 seconds, 95% confidence interval [CI] −51 to −4). By the final trial, CMA was −23 seconds in favor of sweet solutions (95% CI −29 to −18). CMA for pain scores included 50 trials (3341 infants). Results were in favor of sweet solutions from the second trial (0.5, 95% CI −1 to −0.1). Final results showed a standardized mean difference of −0.9 (95% CI −1.1 to −0.7).

LIMITATIONS: We were unable to use or obtain data from many studies to include in the CMA.

CONCLUSIONS: Evidence of sweet taste analgesia in neonates has existed since the first published trials, yet placebo/no-treatment, controlled trials have continued to be conducted. Future neonatal pain studies need to select more ethically responsible control groups.

Reference:

Harrison, D., Larocque, C., Bueno, M., Stokes, Y., Turner, L., Hutton, B. and Stevens, B. (2017) Sweet Solutions to Reduce Procedural Pain in Neonates: A Meta-analysis. Pediatrics. 139(1), p.e20160955.

Thank you to our partners for supporting IVTEAM
[slideshow_deploy id=’23788’]