Pain management in preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis: an international expert consensus statement.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is probably the most painful intestinal disease affecting infants born preterm. NEC is known to cause highly severe and prolonged pain that has been associated with adverse short- and long-term effects. However, research on pain management in infants with NEC is scarc...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Ten Barge JA, van den Bosch GE, Allegaert K, Bhatt A, Brindley N, Byrne D, Campbell-Yeo M, Camprubi-Camprubi M, Cavallaro G, Durrmeyer X, Embleton N, Eriksson M, Flint RB, Garrido F, Giannì ML, Giannoni E, Kitt H, Klerk D, Kristjánsdóttir G, Amponsah AK, Lapillonne A, Martin CR, Matyas M, Norman E, Ohja S, Pirlotte S, Del Rio R, Roué JM, Sevivas C, Slater R, Smits A, de Pipaon MS, Tauzin M, Ukkonen T, Unal S, Villamor E, Molloy EJ, Simons SHP
Tipo de documento: artigo
Estado:Versão publicada
Data de publicação:2025
País:España
Recursos:Fundació Sant Joan de Déu
Repositório:r-FSJD. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica de la Fundació Sant Joan de Déu
OAI Identifier:oai:fsjd.fundanetsuite.com:p28671
Acesso em linha:https://fsjd.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=28671
Access Level:Acceso aberto
Palavra-chave:Necrotizing enterocolitis
Pain management
Preterm infants
Descrição
Resumo:Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is probably the most painful intestinal disease affecting infants born preterm. NEC is known to cause highly severe and prolonged pain that has been associated with adverse short- and long-term effects. However, research on pain management in infants with NEC is scarce. This is likely due to its low incidence and very acute occurrence. As a result, the optimal pain management for these vulnerable infants remains unknown, and analgesic therapy practices are highly variable. Therefore, we aimed to establish expert-based consensus recommendations on pain management for NEC. Experts of the European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) Special Interest Groups on Neonatal pain and NEC were invited to participate in two consensus meetings. Prior to the first hybrid consensus meeting, an online survey provided input for potential recommendations. During the consensus meetings, experts shared clinical expertise and voted on recommendations. An expert consensus statement, comprising nine recommendations on optimal pain assessment and pain treatment in infants with NEC, was developed. Expert recommendations included regular pain assessments with a neonatal pain scale with additional assessments on indication and pre-emptive administration of analgesic therapy (e.g., paracetamol and an opioid) in infants with NEC stage = II. CONCLUSION: This expert consensus statement provides clinical recommendations essential for any healthcare professional caring for premature infants with NEC. The recommended guidance this statement provides on pain management strategies is key to preventing and reducing pain in this vulnerable population. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a very painful disease, making effective pain management essential. • Current pain management practices for infants with NEC are highly variable. WHAT IS NEW: • This expert consensus statement provides recommendations on optimal pain assessment and pain treatment in infants with NEC. • These clinical recommendations may help better prevent pain in these vulnerable infants.