[Pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic pain-therapy in neonatology: synopsis of the current data]

Abstract

Background: There is increasing knowledge about the negative consequences of early pain experiences on the acute and long-term outcome of preterm and term neonates. Despite of it, pain is common in neonatal intensive care. Pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic methods of pain therapy with variable analgesic efficacy exist.

Method: The aim of this article is to give a compendium of the actual strategies of pain therapies for invasive procedures, endotracheal suctioning, eye-examination and for mechanical ventilation of preterm and term neonates. An evaluation of benefits and drawbacks of the single pain alleviating measures will be done.