Defining Procedural Distress in the NICU and What Can Be Done About It

The effectiveness of the therapeutic toys on the comfort level and vital signs of the neonates during intravenous cannula insertion (Comfiestudy): A randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

This study was planned to determine the effect of the therapeutic toy used during IV cannula insertion on the comfort level, crying time and vital signs of neonates.

METHODS

The sample (n = 38) was randomized to the Control and the Comfie Groups. Vital signs were measured before, during, and after the IV cannula insertion. Comfort levels and the duration of crying were measured during the insertion.

RESULTS

Neonates in the Comfie Group had lower pulse and higher saturation levels during the insertion, and they had lower respiration rates and pulse but higher oxygen saturation levels at the post 1st-5th minute. They were more comfortable than the neonates in the control group.

DISCUSSION

The result of this research reveals that therapeutic toys applied during the IV cannula insertion in neonates increase the comfort level and stabilize the vital signs.

APPLICATION TO PRACTICE

The use of toys during IV cannula insertion could be an effective nonpharmacological method to improve outcomes.

Physiological Effects of Handling in Moderate to Late Preterm Infants Receiving Neonatal Intensive Care

BACKGROUND

Of all preterm births, approximately 82% are moderate to late preterm. Moderate to late preterm infants are often treated like full-term infants despite their physiological and metabolic immaturity, increasing their risk for mortality and morbidity.

PURPOSE

To describe the relationship between routine caregiving methods and physiological markers of stress and hypoxemia in infants born between 32 and 36 weeks' gestation.

METHODS

This descriptive study used a prospective observational design to examine the relationship between routine caregiving patterns (single procedure vs clustered care) and physiological markers of stress and hypoxemia such as regional oxygen saturation, quantified as renal and cerebral regional oxygen saturation (StO2), systemic oxygen saturation (Spo2), and heart rate (HR) in moderate to late preterm infants. Renal and cerebral StO2 was measured using near-infrared spectroscopy during a 6-hour study period. Spo2 and HR were measured using pulse oximetry.

RESULTS

A total of 231 procedures were captured in 37 participants. We found greater alterations in cerebral StO2, renal StO2, Spo2, and HR when routine procedures were performed consecutively in clusters than when procedures were performed singly or separately.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH

Our results suggest that the oxygen saturation and HR of moderate to late preterm infants were significantly altered when exposed to routine procedures that were performed consecutively, in clusters, compared with when exposed to procedures that were performed singly or separately. Adequately powered randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the type of caregiving patterns that will optimize the health outcomes of this vulnerable population.

The Effect of Endotracheal Suctioning Using the Four-handed Care on Physiological Criteria and Behavioral Responses of the Preterm Infants: Randomized Crossover Clinical Trial

Introduction: Endotracheal suctioning is one of the procedures that can cause pain and stress for infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Pain and stress can be manifested with physiological and behavioral responses. This study is a crossover randomized clinical trial design that aimed to investigate the effect of endotracheal suctioning, using four-handed care on the physiological criteria and behavioral responses of preterm infants. Methods: In this study, 40 infants were randomly divided into two groups of 20, one group was first suctioned by the routine method (two hands) and then with the four-handed method. The other group was first suctioned by the four-handed method and then with the routine one. The ALPS-Neo (Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital Pain Scale Neonates) was used to evaluate pain and stress in infants. One camera recorded facial expressions and body movements, and physiological data were recorded from the monitor simultaneously. Results: Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no statistically significant difference in changes in arterial saturation, heart rate and behavioral response scores between the two methods, but there was a significant difference in the mean heart rate of infants during and two minutes after suctioning in four-handed method using independent t test. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 13. Conclusion: Four-handed suctioning method can prevent an increase in the heart rate during and two minutes after suctioning, but it does not seem to affect behavioral responses and oxygen saturation of the infants. Since one of the symptoms of pain and stress in infants is the change of vital signs, especially the heart rate, we recommend four-handed method for suctioning of endotracheal tube.