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. 2007 Nov 6;5(4):371–381. doi: 10.1093/ecam/nem084

Table 2.

Studies using NNS and other sweet solutions with or without NNS for minor procedures

Study Procedure Participants Randomized CAM approach Control Outcome measures Findings
Field and Goldson (6) Heel stick 48 preterm 48 pre-IC 48 term Yes Pacifier (NNS) Standard care NBAS HR Respiration Crying: pacifier < control HR and respiration: pacifier < control (for minimal care preterms)
Campos (15) a) Heel stick a) 32 2-week-old No Pacifier (NNS) versus Swaddling None Crying 2 week-olds: crying, HR: pacifier < swaddling
b) Injection b) 32 2-month-olds HR Both groups: HR, crying: pacifier > recovery
Miller and Anderson (16) Intravenous catheter insertion 10 pre-and full term Yes Pacifier (NNS) Standard care Crying HR Crying, HR: pacifier < control
Corbo et al. (18) Heel stick 23 preterm 3 term Yes Pacifier (NNS) Standard care NBAS HR, SaO2 Crying time and HR: pacifier < control
Bucher et al.(36) Heel stick 80 term Yes

  1. Artificial sweetener

  2. Expressed breast milk

  3. Glycerine

 Water % time crying Recovery time Face/body pain HR Crying/recovery time: sweetener < others HR recovery: sweetener > others
Bilgen et al. (38) Heel stick 30 term Yes

  1. 25% Sucrose

  2. Breast milk

  3. Breast feeding

 Water IBCS Crying time HR Pain: sucrose < breastfed, milk, control Crying: sucrose < others
Carbajal et al. (4) Subcutaneous injections 39 preterm Trial 1: 30% glucose Trial 2: 30% glucose versus 30% glucose + pacifier Trial 1: water DAN scale

  • 1: Pain: glucose < control

  • 2: No differences in glucose groups
Gradin et al. (42) Venipuncture 201 term Yes Glucose EMLA cream + water Crying time PIPP Change in HR Crying, PIPP: glucose < control
Carbajal et al. (37) Venipuncture 180 term Yes

  1. Breast feeding

  2. Held in mother's arms

  3. 30% glucose + pacifier

 Water DAN 0.PIPP Pain: glucose + pacifier, breastfeeding < others
Gradin et al. (40) Venipuncture 120 term Yes

  1. Breastfed + 30% glucose

  2. Fasting + 30% glucose

  1. Breast fed + placebo

  2. Fasting + placebo

 PIPP Parent pain assess Crying time PIPP: glucose groups < controls
Akcam (35) Heel stick 34 term Yes

  1. 30% fructose

  2. 30% glucose

 Water DAN behavioral pain scale Pain: fructose, glucose < control
Akcam and Ormeci (34) Heel stick 60 term Yes

  1. 30% glucose by spray

  2. 30% glucose syringe

 Water by syringe DAN scale Pain: glucose groups < control No differences between two glucose groups