Heel lance in newborn during breastfeeding: an evaluation of analgesic effect of this procedure

Elena Uga, Manuela Candriella, Antonella Perino, Viviana Alloni, Giuseppina Angilella, Michela Trada, Anna Maria Ziliotto, Maura Barbara Rossi, Danila Tozzini, Clelia Tripaldi, Michela Vaglio, Luigina Grossi, Michaela Allen, Sandro Provera, Elena Uga, Manuela Candriella, Antonella Perino, Viviana Alloni, Giuseppina Angilella, Michela Trada, Anna Maria Ziliotto, Maura Barbara Rossi, Danila Tozzini, Clelia Tripaldi, Michela Vaglio, Luigina Grossi, Michaela Allen, Sandro Provera

Abstract

Objectives: The reduction of pain due to routine invasive procedures (capillary heel stick blood sampling for neonatal metabolic screening) in the newborn is an important objective for the so-called "Hospital with no pain". Practices such as skin to skin contact, or breastfeeding, in healthy newborn, may represent an alternative to the use of analgesic drugs. The aim of our work is to evaluate the analgesic effect of breastfeeding during heel puncture in full term healthy newborn.

Methods: We studied 200 healthy full term newborns (100 cases and 100 controls), proposing the puncture to mothers during breastfeeding, and explaining to them all the advantages of this practice. Pain assessment was evaluated by DAN scale (Douleur Aigue Nouveau ne scale).

Results: The difference in score of pain according to the DAN scale was significant in the two groups of patients (p = 0.000); the medium score was 5.15 for controls and 2.65 for cases (newborns sampled during breastfeeding).

Conclusion: Our results confirmed the evidence of analgesic effect of breastfeeding during heel puncture. This procedure could easily be adopted routinely in maternity wards.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
DAN scale.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Graph comparing DAN scale total scores for cases and controls.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Facial expressions.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Limb movements.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Vocal expression.

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