Schüssler SC, Kußmann F, Fahlbusch FB, Münster T, Hirsch K, Carbon R, Albrecht S, Dötsch J, Rascher W. Postoperative pain in small-for-gestational age infants after hernia repair, orchidopexy and urethral reconstruction surgery: A pilot study.
Early Hum Dev 2019;
136:39-44. [PMID:
31302387 DOI:
10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2019.07.003]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth bears an enhanced risk of developing hypertension, obesity, insulin resistance and mental health disorders in later life as a consequence of adaptive processes in utero. Only a small number of studies on pain perception in SGA infants exist. These are indicative of a blunted stress response to pain in SGA newborns.
AIM
We initiated a pilot study investigating differences in postoperative pain perception between SGA and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants.
METHODS
Pain and alertness levels of 10 formerly SGA and 14 AGA infants at the age 0.5-2 years were evaluated by the FLACC scale, Steward and Aldrete Scores following hernia repair, reconstructive surgery of hypospadia and orchidopexy. In addition, the postoperative consumption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was compared between SGA and AGA.
RESULTS
Postoperative pain and alertness levels were not significantly different in SGA and AGA children. We did not observe significant group differences regarding the consumption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
CONCLUSION
While previous studies were suggestive of a suppressed stress response to pain in SGA newborns, these findings did not fully translate into an altered response to pain beyond the newborn age. Further studies in a larger cohort seem necessary to verify this finding.
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