Comparison of the Pain-relieving Effects of Human Milk, Sucrose, and Distilled Water during Examinations for Retinopathy of Prematurity: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: This study compared the pain-relieving effects of human milk, sucrose, and distilled water during examinations for retinopathy of prematurity.
Methods: Forty-five preterm infants were randomly assigned to receive a pacifier dipped in one of three solutions: human milk (n=14), 24% sucrose (n=15), or distilled water (n=16), 2 minutes before an eye examination. Their pain score, pulse rate, and oxygen saturation were measured at three time points: 5 minutes before the examination, 30 seconds after speculum introduction, and 2 minutes after the examination.
Results: The infants' mean gestational age and weight at birth were 33.1±2.1 weeks and 1,842±470 g, respectively. There were no between-group differences in pain relief during the eye examination. The pain score significantly increased both during ( p <.001) and after the examinations ( p =.003). Oxygen saturation decreased during the examinations ( p <.001); however, the infants in the 24% sucrose group showed higher oxygen saturation ( p =.047) during the examinations than the infants in the other groups.
Conclusion: Sucking on a pacifier dipped in human milk or 24% sucrose did not reduce the pain associated with eye examinations in preterm infants. Pacifiers dipped in sucrose can be used to maintain better oxygen saturation during these examinations.
Competing Interests: No existing or potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.
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