Abstract
Objective: To describe the use of heel blood sampling and non-pharmacological analgesia in a large representative sample of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in eight European countries, and compare their self-reported practices with evidence-based recommendations. Methods: Information on use of heel blood sampling and associated procedures (oral sweet solutions, non-nutritive sucking, swaddling or positioning, topical anaesthetics and heel warming) were collected through a structured mail questionnaire. 284 NICUs (78% response rate) participated, but only 175 with ≥50 very low birth weight admissions per year were included in this analysis. Results: Use of heel blood sampling appeared widespread. Most units in the Netherlands, UK, Denmark, Sweden and France predominantly adopted mechanical devices, while manual lance was still in use in the other countries. The two Scandinavian countries and France were the most likely, and Belgium and Spain the least likely to employ recommended combinations of evidence-based pain management measures. Conclusions: Heel puncture is a common procedure in preterm neonates, but pain appears inadequately treated in many units and countries. Better compliance with published guidelines is needed for clinical and ethi cal reasons.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal and Neonatal Edition |
| Volume | 96 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2011 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Cite this
Heel blood sampling in European neonatal intensive care units : Compliance with pain management guidelines. / Losacco, Valentina; Cuttini, Marina; Greisen, Gorm; Haumont, Dominique; Pallás-Alonso, Carmen R.; Pierrat, Veronique; Warren, Inga; Smit, Bert J.; Westrup, Björn; Sizun, Jacques.
In: Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal and Neonatal Edition, Vol. 96, No. 1, 01.2011.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Heel blood sampling in European neonatal intensive care units
T2 - Compliance with pain management guidelines
AU - Losacco, Valentina
AU - Cuttini, Marina
AU - Greisen, Gorm
AU - Haumont, Dominique
AU - Pallás-Alonso, Carmen R.
AU - Pierrat, Veronique
AU - Warren, Inga
AU - Smit, Bert J.
AU - Westrup, Björn
AU - Sizun, Jacques
PY - 2011/1
Y1 - 2011/1
N2 - Objective: To describe the use of heel blood sampling and non-pharmacological analgesia in a large representative sample of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in eight European countries, and compare their self-reported practices with evidence-based recommendations. Methods: Information on use of heel blood sampling and associated procedures (oral sweet solutions, non-nutritive sucking, swaddling or positioning, topical anaesthetics and heel warming) were collected through a structured mail questionnaire. 284 NICUs (78% response rate) participated, but only 175 with ≥50 very low birth weight admissions per year were included in this analysis. Results: Use of heel blood sampling appeared widespread. Most units in the Netherlands, UK, Denmark, Sweden and France predominantly adopted mechanical devices, while manual lance was still in use in the other countries. The two Scandinavian countries and France were the most likely, and Belgium and Spain the least likely to employ recommended combinations of evidence-based pain management measures. Conclusions: Heel puncture is a common procedure in preterm neonates, but pain appears inadequately treated in many units and countries. Better compliance with published guidelines is needed for clinical and ethi cal reasons.
AB - Objective: To describe the use of heel blood sampling and non-pharmacological analgesia in a large representative sample of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in eight European countries, and compare their self-reported practices with evidence-based recommendations. Methods: Information on use of heel blood sampling and associated procedures (oral sweet solutions, non-nutritive sucking, swaddling or positioning, topical anaesthetics and heel warming) were collected through a structured mail questionnaire. 284 NICUs (78% response rate) participated, but only 175 with ≥50 very low birth weight admissions per year were included in this analysis. Results: Use of heel blood sampling appeared widespread. Most units in the Netherlands, UK, Denmark, Sweden and France predominantly adopted mechanical devices, while manual lance was still in use in the other countries. The two Scandinavian countries and France were the most likely, and Belgium and Spain the least likely to employ recommended combinations of evidence-based pain management measures. Conclusions: Heel puncture is a common procedure in preterm neonates, but pain appears inadequately treated in many units and countries. Better compliance with published guidelines is needed for clinical and ethi cal reasons.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=78650816371&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/adc.2010.186429
DO - 10.1136/adc.2010.186429
M3 - Article
C2 - 21177753
AN - SCOPUS:78650816371
VL - 96
JO - Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal and Neonatal Edition
JF - Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal and Neonatal Edition
SN - 1359-2998
IS - 1
ER -