Pain and distress management in palliative neonatal care

Abstract

Palliative care concentrates on preventing and relieving suffering by reducing the severity of disease symptoms. Consistent treatment of pain and distress must therefore be an integral component of every palliative care concept. In this review non-pharmacological and pharmacological measures for pain and distress management in the context of palliative neonatal care are summarised. Furthermore, recommendations are given focusing on two special palliative neonatal care settings: compassionate extubation and withdrawing artificial nutrition and hydration.

Keywords: Analgesia; End-of-life care; Life-limiting; Neonatal comfort care; Newborn; Symptom control.