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.

Citations

• Effects of fentanyl and sucrose on pain in retinopathy examinations with pain scale, near-infrared spectroscopy, and ultrasonography: a randomized trial
  Nursu Kara, Didem Arman, Zeynep Seymen, Adem Gül, Serdar Cömert
  World Journal of Pediatrics.2023; 19(9): 873.     CrossRef
• Non-pharmacological pain relief interventions in preterm neonates undergoing screening for retinopathy of prematurity: a systematic review
  Iretiola Bamikeolu Fajolu, Iyabode Olabisi Florence Dedeke, Beatrice Nkolika Ezenwa, Veronica Chinyere Ezeaka
  BMJ Open Ophthalmology.2023; 8(1): e001271.     CrossRef
• Effect of non-nutritive sucking on pain during the examination of retinopathy of prematurity
  Tuba Koç Özkan, Elif Didem Yüksel, Selahattin Akar
  Journal of Neonatal Nursing.2022; 28(3): 155.     CrossRef
• Effect of Prone Position, Pacifier and Smelling Breast Milk on Pain and Stress Parameters Among Term Neonates Undergoing Venipuncture: A Randomized Controlled Trail
  Fuat Özdemir, Derya Evgin, Nalan Gördeles Beşer
  The Journal of Pediatric Research.2022; 9(2): 146.     CrossRef
• Effectiveness of Gentle Human Touch for Pain Control During Examination for Retinopathy of Pre-maturity: A Randomized Controlled Trial
  Yongping Sun, Jinghan Zhang, Xu Chen, Yang Yang, Jie Qiu, Ke-yu Lu, Rui Cheng
  Frontiers in Pediatrics.2020;[Epub]     CrossRef