Assessment of Pain in the Newborn: An Update

Clin Perinatol. 2019 Dec;46(4):693-707. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2019.08.005. Epub 2019 Aug 19.

Abstract

Preterm and term neonate pain assessment in neonatal intensive care units is vitally important because of the prevalence of procedural and postoperative pain. Of the 40 plus tools available, a few should be chosen for different populations and contexts (2 have been validated in premature infants). Preterm neonates do not display pain behaviors and physiologic indicators as reliably and specifically as full-term infants, and are vulnerable to long-term sequelae of painful experiences. Brain-oriented approaches may become available in the future; meanwhile, neonatal pain assessment tools must be taught, implemented, and their use optimized for consistent, reproducible, safe, and effective treatment.

Keywords: Assessment; Neonate; Pain; Pain scales.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Pain / diagnosis*
  • Blood Pressure
  • Crying
  • Facial Expression
  • Gestational Age
  • Heart Rate
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
  • Muscle Tonus
  • Neonatal Nursing / education
  • Pain / diagnosis
  • Pain Management
  • Pain Measurement / methods*
  • Pain, Postoperative / diagnosis*
  • Pain, Procedural / diagnosis*
  • Posture
  • Sleep