Elucidation of treatment pain and development of alleviation methods for preterm and term infants due to brain localization and network development

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K19818
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Society medicine, Nursing, and related fields
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: Sobue Ikuko 広島大学, 医系科学研究科(保), 教授 (80171396)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 小澤 未緒 広島大学, 医系科学研究科(保), 准教授 (80611318) ; 竹中 和子 広島大学, 医系科学研究科(保), 講師 (90227041) ; 植松 裕子 人間環境大学, 看護学部, 講師 (00808909) ; 桐本 光 広島大学, 医系科学研究科(保), 教授 (40406260)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-06-30 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 早期産児 / 疼痛 / 脳 / 誘発電位

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the degree of invasiveness of treatment pain in preterm and term infants focusing on the sensory regions of the brain (somatosensory area, auditory area), and to develop a pain relief method.
We have developed new interventions (music, pacifiers, facilitated tucking and holding) that are more analgesic than the various previous interventions for heel puncture in preterm infants.A systematic review suggested the need for Aδ and C fiber stimulation-induced event-related potential (ERP) studies associated with neonatal heel puncture to establish ERP pain assessment for neonatal heel puncture. Studies in healthy adults showed a reduction in ERP latency, even though the blade of the lance device was inserted into depth of 0.1 mm in the epidermis where the free nerve endings of Aδ fibers are located, suggesting that ERP may not reflect treatment pain.

Free Research Field

小児看護学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

新生児は、頻回の疼痛によって、脳と神経の発達や認知・運動・行動に短期的・長期的悪影響を被る。本研究において開発した踵穿刺に対する非薬理的疼痛緩和法は、疼痛緩和効果が高く簡便であり、NICUでの活用が期待できる。新生児の踵穿刺によって誘発される事象関連電位の体系的レビュー及び今回実施した疼痛によって誘発される事象関連電位の評価は、新生児の踵穿刺における疼痛評価と介入法開発への寄与が期待できる。