Paracetamol (acetaminophen) for prevention or treatment of pain in newborns

Arne Ohlsson; Prakeshkumar S Shah

doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011219.pub3

. 2016 Oct 7;2016(10):CD011219. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011219.pub3

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) for prevention or treatment of pain in newborns

Arne Ohlsson ^1,^2,^✉, Prakeshkumar S Shah ³

PMCID: PMC6611486 PMID: 27716943

Abstract

Background

Newborn infants have the ability to experience pain. Hospitalised infants are exposed to numerous painful procedures. Healthy newborns are exposed to pain if the birth process consists of assisted vaginal birth by vacuum extraction or by forceps and during blood sampling for newborn screening tests.

Objectives

To determine the efficacy and safety of paracetamol for the prevention or treatment of procedural/postoperative pain or pain associated with clinical conditions in neonates. To review the effects of various doses and routes of administration (enteral, intravenous or rectal) of paracetamol for the prevention or treatment of pain in neonates.

Search methods

We used the standard search strategy of the Cochrane Neonatal Review group to search the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL 2016, Issue 4), MEDLINE via PubMed (1966 to 9 May 2016), Embase (1980 to 9 May 2016), and CINAHL (1982 to 9 May 2016). We searched clinical trials' databases, Google Scholar, conference proceedings, and the reference lists of retrieved articles.

Selection criteria

We included randomised and quasi‐randomised controlled trials of paracetamol for the prevention/treatment of pain in neonates (≤ 28 days of age).

Data collection and analysis

Two review authors independently extracted data from the articles using pre‐designed forms. We used this form to decide trial inclusion/exclusion, to extract data from eligible trials and to request additional published information from authors of the original reports. We entered and cross‐checked data using RevMan 5 software. When noted, we resolved differences by mutual discussion and consensus. We used the GRADE approach to assess the quality of evidence.

Main results

We included nine trials with low risk of bias, which assessed paracetamol for the treatment of pain in 728 infants. Painful procedures studied included heel lance, assisted vaginal birth, eye examination for retinopathy of prematurity assessment and postoperative care. Results of individual studies could not be combined in meta‐analyses as the painful conditions, the use of paracetamol and comparison interventions and the outcome measures differed. Paracetamol compared with water, cherry elixir or EMLA cream (eutectic mixture of lidocaine and prilocaine) did not significantly reduce pain following heel lance. The Premature Infant Pain Profile score (PIPP) within three minutes following lancing was higher in the paracetamol group than in the oral glucose group (mean difference (MD) 2.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72 to 3.70; one study, 38 infants). Paracetamol did not reduce "modified facies scores" after assisted vaginal birth (one study, 119 infants). In another study (n = 123), the Échelle de Douleur et d'Inconfort du Nouveau‐Né score at two hours of age was significantly higher in the group that received paracetamol suppositories than in the placebo suppositories group (MD 1.00, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.40). In that study, when infants were subjected to a heel lance at two to three days of age, Bernese Pain Scale for Neonates scores were higher in the paracetamol group than in the placebo group, and infants spent a longer time crying (MD 19 seconds, 95% CI 14 to 24). For eye examinations, no significant reduction in PIPP scores in the first or last 45 seconds of eye examination was reported, nor at five minutes after the eye examination. In one study (n = 81), the PIPP score was significantly higher in the paracetamol group than in the 24% sucrose group (MD 3.90, 95% CI 2.92 to 4.88). In one study (n = 114) the PIPP score during eye examination was significantly lower in the paracetamol group than in the water group (MD −2.70, 95% CI −3.55 to 1.85). For postoperative care following major surgery, the total amount of morphine (µg/kg) administered over 48 hours was significantly less among infants assigned to the paracetamol group than to the morphine group (MD −157 µg/kg, 95% CI −27 to −288). No adverse events were noted in any study. The quality of evidence according to GRADE was low.

Authors' conclusions

The paucity and low quality of existing data do not provide sufficient evidence to establish the role of paracetamol in reducing the effects of painful procedures in neonates. Paracetamol given after assisted vaginal birth may increase the response to later painful exposures. Paracetamol may reduce the total need for morphine following major surgery, and for this aspect of paracetamol use, further research is needed.

Keywords: Humans; Infant, Newborn; Acetaminophen; Acetaminophen/therapeutic use; Analgesics, Non‐Narcotic; Analgesics, Non‐Narcotic/therapeutic use; Delivery, Obstetric; Delivery, Obstetric/methods; Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological/adverse effects; Infant, Premature; Pain; Pain/drug therapy; Pain/etiology; Pain/prevention & control; Pain, Postoperative; Pain, Postoperative/drug therapy; Pain, Postoperative/prevention & control; Punctures; Punctures/adverse effects; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Retinopathy of Prematurity; Retinopathy of Prematurity/diagnosis

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) for prevention or treatment of pain in newborns

Review question: Is paracetamol effective and safe for the prevention or treatment of procedural or postoperative pain or pain associated with clinical conditions in newborn infants?

Background: Newborn infants have the ability to experience pain. Newborns treated in neonatal intensive care units are exposed to numerous painful procedures. Healthy newborns are exposed to pain if the birth process consists of assisted vaginal birth by vacuum extraction or by forceps and during blood sampling for newborn screening tests.

Study characteristics: We identified nine studies that reported comparisons in 728 infants of paracetamol versus placebo or other pain‐reducing interventions. The literature search was updated in May 2016.

Key results: Paracetamol for heel lance did not reduce pain compared with placebo (water or cherry elixir) or compared with EMLA cream (eutectic mixture of lidocaine and prilocaine). Paracetamol use was associated with a stronger response to pain than was seen with glucose. Paracetamol did not reduce pain in infants exposed to vacuum extraction or forceps at birth, and their response to a subsequent heel lance at two to three days of life was increased compared with placebo. For eye examination, paracetamol was effective in reducing pain compared with water in one study, but the pain response was stronger among paracetamol‐treated infants than in infants given 24% sucrose. In infants treated with paracetamol and morphine compared with morphine alone, the total amount of morphine required during the first 48 hours following major surgery to the chest or the abdomen was less in the paracetamol group. Paracetamol did not significantly reduce pain during heel lance. Paracetamol following assisted birth may increase the response to later exposure to painful interventions. Paraetamol may reduce the total need for morphine following major surgery, and further research is needed into this aspect of paracetamol use.

Quality of evidence: In general the studies were of good quality but the numbers of infants enrolled in the different studies were small. The overall quality of evidence was low.

Summary of findings

Summary of findings for the main comparison.

Paracetamol compared with control for pain
Patient or population: Neonates Settings: Any Intervention: Paracetamol Comparison: Control
Outcomes	*Illustrative comparative risks (95% CI)**		Relative effect (95% CI)	No of Participants (studies)	Quality of the evidence (GRADE)	Comments
	Assumed risk	Corresponding risk
	[control]	Paracetamol
Heel lance ‐ paracetamol (oral) compared to sterile water (oral) for prevention or treatment of pain in newborns
PIPP score (difference between baseline and heel lance period)		The mean PIPP score (difference between baseline and heel lance period) in the intervention groups was 1.4 higher (0.45 lower to 3.25 higher)		72 (1)	⊕⊕⊝⊝ low	Bias: there was low risk of bias in this study (see RoB tables) Consistency: N/A as there was only one study included Precision: there was low precision in the point estimate with a wide 95% CI Directness of the evidence: the trial was conducted in the target population Presence of publication bias: N/A as there was only one study included
Duration of crying (seconds) during the first 3 minutes		The mean duration of crying (seconds) during the first 3 minutes in the intervention groups was 8.1 higher (19.09 lower to 35.29 higher)		72 (1)	⊕⊕⊝⊝ low	Bias: there was low risk of bias in this study (see RoB tables) Consistency: N/A as there was only one study included Precision: there was low precision in the point estimate with a wide 95% CI Directness of the evidence: the trial was conducted in the target population Presence of publication bias: N/A as there was only one study included
Heel lance ‐ paracetamol (oral) compared to glucose (oral) for prevention or treatment of pain in newborns
PIPP (maximum score within 3 minutes following lancing)		The mean PIPP (maximum score within 3 minutes following lancing) in the intervention groups was 2.21 higher (0.72 to 3.7 higher)		38 (1)	⊕⊕⊝⊝ low	Bias: there was some concern about selection bias in this study (see RoB tables) Consistency: N/A as there was only one study included Precision: there was low precision in the point estimate with a wide 95% CI Directness of the evidence: the trial was conducted in the target population Presence of publication bias: N/A as there was only one study included
Heel lance ‐ paracetamol (oral) compared to EMLA (cream) for prevention or treatment of pain in newborns
PIPP (maximum score within 3 minutes following lancing)		The mean PIPP (maximum score within 3 minutes following lancing) in the intervention groups was 1.21 higher (0.38 lower to 2.8 higher)		38 (1)	⊕⊕⊝⊝ low	Bias: there was some concern about selection bias in this study (see RoB tables) Consistency: N/A as there was only one study included Precision: there was low precision in the point estimate with a wide 95% CI Directness of the evidence: the trial was conducted in the target population Presence of publication bias: N/A as there was only one study included
Eye examination ‐ paracetamol (oral) compared to placebo (sterile water) for eye examination for prevention or treatment of pain in newborns
PIPP score in first 45 seconds of eye examination		The mean PIPP score in first 45 seconds of eye examination in the intervention groups was 0.8 lower (1.69 lower to 0.09 higher)		80 (1)	⊕⊕⊝⊝ low	Bias: there was some concern about performance bias in this study (see RoB tables) Consistency: N/A as there was only one study included Precision: there was low precision in the point estimate with a wide 95% CI Directness of the evidence: the trial was conducted in the target population Presence of publication bias: N/A as there was only one study included
Eye examination ‐ paracetamol (oral) compared to 24% sucrose (oral) for prevention or treatment of pain in newborns
PIPP score in first 45 seconds of eye examination		The mean PIPP score in first 45 seconds of eye examination in the intervention groups was 3.9 higher (2.92 to 4.88 higher)		81 (1)	⊕⊕⊝⊝ low	Bias: there was some concern about performance bias in this study (see RoB tables) Consistency: N/A as there was only one study included Precision: there was low precision in the point estimate with a wide 95% CI Directness of the evidence: the trial was conducted in the target population Presence of publication bias: N/A as there was only one study included
Eye examination ‐ paracetamol compared to morphine for prevention or treatment of pain in newborns
PIPP score 5 minutes after eye examination		The mean PIPP score 5 minutes after eye examination in the intervention groups was 1.1 higher (0.7 lower to 2.9 higher)		11 (1)	⊕⊝⊝⊝ Very low	Bias: there was low risk of bias in this study (see RoB tables) Consistency: N/A as there was only one study included Precision: there was low precision in the point estimate with a wide 95% CI. Only 11 infants were included in the analysis Directness of the evidence: the trial was conducted in the target population Presence of publication bias: N/A as there was only one study included
The basis for the assumed risk* (e.g. the median control group risk across studies) is provided in footnotes. The corresponding risk (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI). CI: Confidence interval; N/A: Not applicable; RoB: Risk of bias
GRADE Working Group grades of evidence High quality: Further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect. Moderate quality: Further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate. Low quality: Further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate. Very low quality: We are very uncertain about the estimate.

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Background

Evolving evidence suggests that neonates/infants experience pain (Ohlsson 2000; Ohlsson 2007). This was documented as early as 1518, when Jörgen Ratgeb painted the circumcision of Jesus. The picture of crying Jesus shows the same facial expressions that were later depicted in an etching of the same event by Rembrandt in 1630 (Schwartz 1977; Ohlsson 2007). In 1872, Darwin commissioned photographs of infants experiencing pain and described the facial, vocal and bodily expressions of infants in pain (Darwin 1872; Ohlsson 2007). Similar observations form the basis for several validated neonatal pain scales in use today (Ohlsson 2007).

Over the centuries, little progress was made in the prevention and management of infant pain. The first controlled trial of an intervention for pain in infants was probably that conducted in the 1960s by Palmer, who found in a double‐blind, controlled study involving 86 infants with teething pain that an active gel (choline salicylate) was more effective than placebo in reducing pain (Palmer 1962). Dorsal penile nerve block (DPNB) was introduced in 1978 for circumcision (Kirya 1978), and in 1983 in a double‐blind investigation, Holve and co‐workers demonstrated that circumcision following DPNB with an injection of lidocaine reduced the time spent crying and reduced the mean increase in heart rate compared with DPNB with saline or no DPNB (Holve 1983). In a trial that used random allocation for assignment of infants to study groups, Harpin and Rutter demonstrated that a mechanical heel lance was considerably less painful than a manual heel lance (Harpin 1983).

In 1987, Anand and co‐workers reported the results of a small randomised controlled trial (Anand 1987a). Preterm infants undergoing ligation of a patent ductus arteriosus were given nitrous oxide and d‐tubocurarine. Eight infants received additional intravenous fentanyl (10 µg/kg) to the anaesthetic regimen, and eight infants did not. Hormonal responses to the surgery were significantly greater in the non‐fentanyl group. In contrast to the fentanyl group, the non‐fentanyl group had circulatory and metabolic complications postoperatively (Anand 1987a).

Later the same year, Anand and Hickey published the very influential paper, 'Pain and its effects in the human neonate and fetus', in The New England Journal of Medicine (Anand 1987b). As of 16 May 2015, the paper had been quoted more than 700 times according to the Web of Science. Anand and Hickey provided evidence that fetuses that are mature enough to survive outside the womb with or without extensive life support have the anatomical, biochemical and physiological requisites in place to respond to painful stimuli (Anand 1987b). That same year, the American Academy of Pediatrics published a one‐page opinion paper on "neonatal anesthesia" and stated "The Committee on Fetus and Newborn, the Committee on Drugs, the Section on Anesthesiology, and the Section on Surgery believe that local or systemic pharmacological agents now available permit relatively safe administration of anesthesia or analgesia to neonates undergoing surgical procedures and that such administration is indicated according to the usual guidelines for the administration of anesthesia to high‐risk, potentially unstable patients" (AAP 1987).

Infants treated in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are exposed to numerous painful procedures. Did increased awareness in 1987 about neonatal pain and its treatment change how healthcare workers approach pain management? Many surveys on pain management have been conducted, but changes in clinical practice have not occurred quickly. A survey of 30 Canadian level III NICUs in 1992 with a 87% response rate concluded that procedural and disease‐related pain is frequently untreated (Fernandez 1994).

Between September 2005 and January 2006, data on all painful and stressful procedures and corresponding analgesic therapy from the first 14 days of admission were prospectively collected from 430 neonates admitted to 13 tertiary care centres in the Paris region of France (Carbajal 2008). The mean (standard deviation (SD)) postmenstrual age (PMA) of the infants and the length of the intensive care unit stay were 33.0 (4.6) weeks and 8.4 (4.6) days, respectively. Neonates experienced 60,969 first‐attempt procedures, of which 42,413 (69.6%) were painful and 18,556 (30.4%) were stressful procedures. Neonates experienced a median of 115 (range 4 to 613) procedures during the study period and 16 (range 0 to 62) procedures per day of hospitalisation (Carbajal 2008). In order of frequency, the five most common painful procedures to which the neonates were exposed consisted of nasal aspiration, tracheal aspiration, heel lance, adhesive removal and gastric tube insertion. The five most frequently performed stressful procedures to which infants were exposed included nursing care, oral aspiration, washing of the neonate, blood pressure measurement and x‐rays (Carbajal 2008).

In an observational, prospective study conducted between February 2009 and August 2009 in the level III NICU of Sophia Children's Hospital in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, bedside data were collected on all procedures that infants underwent during the first 14 days of admission (Roofthooft 2014). A procedure was defined as any medical, nursing, surgical, diagnostic or therapeutic intervention provided to a patient. Study authors did not distinguish between painful and stressful procedures. Invasive or painful procedures were defined as interventions that cause mucosal or skin injury from removal or introduction of foreign material (Roofthooft 2014). A total of 21,076 procedures were performed during 1730 patient‐days (mean 12.2 days) in the 175 neonates studied. The mean number of painful procedures per neonate per day was 11.4 (SD 5.7) — significantly fewer than the 14.3 (SD 4.0) painful procedures reported in a similar study in the unit in 2001. Use of analgesics was 36.6% compared with 60.3% in 2001. Sixty‐three per cent of all peripheral arterial line insertions failed versus 37.5% in 2001, and 38% of intravenous cannula insertions failed versus 30.9% in 2001. Study authors concluded that the mean number of painful procedures per NICU patient per day had declined over time (Roofthooft 2014).

To our knowledge, no surveys have been performed to determine how commonly newborns are exposed to clinically painful conditions such as, for example, birth trauma, congenital anomalies (myelomeningoceles, hydrocephalus, open cutaneous lesions), necrotizing enterocolitis and burns.

Description of the condition

The International Association for the Study of Pain has defined pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage" (Merskey 1979). Interpretation of pain is subjective. Each person forms an internal construct of pain through encountered injury. Several experts have suggested that the neonate's expression of pain does not fit within the strict definition of the International Association for the Study of Pain because of the requirement for self‐report. This lack of ability to report pain contributes to the failure of healthcare professionals to recognise and treat pain aggressively during infancy and early childhood. Neonates cannot verbalise their pain; therefore they depend on others to recognise, assess and manage their pain. Healthcare professionals therefore can diagnose neonatal pain only by recognising the neonate's associated behavioural and physiological responses (AAP 2000; CPS 2000).

Optimal pain management requires competent pain assessment, which can be especially difficult to perform in neonates. Pain assessment tools can be biochemical (salivary and serum cortisol); physiological (heart rate); and behavioural (facial observation). A pain assessment tool should be multi‐dimensional, including measurements of both physiological and behavioural indicators of pain, because neonates cannot self‐report (AAP 2006). Pain associated with chronic illness states, such as necrotizing enterocolitis, asphyxia, intracranial haemorrhage, hydrocephalus, sepsis and chronic hypoxaemia secondary to lung disease, has been largely ignored (Stevens 2000). Some infants will require pain management as part of palliative care (Stevens 2000). Neonatal postoperative pain scales have been developed (Ambuel 1992; Krechel 1995; Büttner 2000); of these, the COMFORT scale appears to perform the best (van Dijk 2009; Franck 2011). Examples of pain scores include the Neonatal Infant Pain Score (NIPS) (Lawrence 1993); the Neonatal Facial Coding System (NFCS) (Grunau 1998); the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) (Craig 1994); the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) (Stevens 1996); Échelle de Douleur et d'Inconfort du Nouveau‐Né (EDIN; neonatal pain and discomfort scale) (Debillon 2001); the Behavioral Indicators of Infant Pain Scale (BIIP) (Holsti 2007; Holsti 2008); the Bernese Pain Scale for Neonates (BPSN) (Cignacco 2004); and numerous others (AAP 2006). Specific postoperative pain scores include COMFORT (Ambuel 1992), CRIES (Krechel 1995) and the Children's and Infants' Postoperative Pain Scale (CHIPPS) (Büttner 2000).

Extremely low gestational age infants (less than 27 weeks' PMA) have pain responses similar to those of more mature infants, but their responses are dampened (Gibbins 2008). Facial activities are increased following painful procedures (heel lance) and the magnitude of responses is proportional to PMA, with the most immature infants (less than 27 weeks' PMA) showing the least amount of change (Gibbins 2008).

Description of the intervention

Paracetamol is the most commonly prescribed analgesic for the treatment of acute pain in adults and children (Tzortzopoulou 2011); it is also used to treat pain in infants. Paracetamol can be administered intravenously, orally (or via a gastric tube) or rectally (Wang 2014). In a survey by UK anaesthetists of intravenous paracetamol use in neonates and infants younger than one year of age, maintenance doses were 7.5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg, with a dosing interval of six or eight hours in preterm infants (Wilson‐Smith 2009). In a study of intravenous acetaminophen pharmacokinetics conducted in Australia, the postoperative dose given every six hours was 10 mg/kg for infants with a PMA of 28 to 32 weeks, 12.5 mg/kg for infants with a PMA of 32 to 36 weeks and 15 mg/kg for infants with a PMA of 36 or more weeks (Palmer 2008). Following this study, the unit continued to use the reported doses based on PMA (Palmer 2008). Overall, paracetamol has a reasonable safety profile; however, it has been reported that unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia impacts upon clearance of paracetamol (Palmer 2008). In addition, acetaminophen‐induced hepatic failure with encephalopathy has been described in a term newborn who received oral acetaminophen from his parents every four hours following circumcision (Walls 2007).

In a meta‐pharmacokinetic analysis of population pharmacokinetics of paracetamol from birth to adulthood, Wang and co‐workers included eight previously published studies that enrolled neonates (one to 76 days old), infants (0.11 to 1.33 years old), children (two to seven years old) and adults (19 to 34 years old) (Wang 2014). Their results showed that developmental changes in clearance were best described on the basis of a power function with an exponent that varied with body weight. This exponent was found to vary from a value of 1.2 for neonates to 0.75 for older children and adults (Wang 2014). Based on their model, the study authors presented dosing regimens of intravenous paracetamol, aiming for a target paracetamol concentration of 9 mg/L in individuals weighing between 0.5 kg and 50 kg. The loading dose for neonates varies from 5.6 mg/kg at a body weight of 0.5 kg to 38.3 mg at a body weight of 3.0 kg. The maintenance dose (administered four times daily) varies from 5.1 mg/kg at 0.5 kg body weight to 8.5 mg at 3.0 kg body weight (Wang 2014). These findings of developmental changes based on body weight justify subgroup analyses based on the weight of the infant.

Potentially more serious complications following perinatal/neonatal exposure to paracetamol have been reported. In an animal model, Viberg and co‐workers examined whether neonatal paracetamol exposure could affect the development of the brain, manifested as adult behaviour and cognitive deficits, as well as changes in the response to paracetamol (Viberg 2014). Ten‐day‐old mice were administered a single dose of paracetamol (30 mg/kg/body weight) or repeated doses of paracetamol (30 + 30 mg/kg body weight, four hours apart). Concentrations of paracetamol and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were measured in the neonatal brain. Behavioural testing was done when the animals reached adulthood. Neonatal exposure to paracetamol (2 × 30 mg) resulted in altered locomotor activity on exposure to a novel home cage arena and failure to acquire spatial learning in adulthood, without affecting thermal nociceptive responding while exhibiting paracetamol‐induced antinociceptive and anxiogenic‐like behaviour in adulthood. Study authors suggested that behavioural alterations in adulthood may be due, in part, to paracetamol‐induced changes in BDNF levels in key brain regions at a critical time during development. They concluded that exposure to, and presence of, paracetamol during a critical period of brain development can induce long‐lasting effects on cognitive function and can alter the adult response to paracetamol in mice (Viberg 2014). As this study was conducted in mice, findings may not be relevant to human neonates; however, the study raises concerns about the safety of paracetamol which need to be evaluated.

In an ecological study conducted in humans and using country‐level data for the period 1984 to 2005, prenatal use of paracetamol was correlated with autism/autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (Bauer 2013). To explore the relationship of early neonatal paracetamol exposure to autism/ASD, population‐weighted average male autism‐prevalence rates for all available countries and US states were compared with male circumcision rates — a procedure for which paracetamol has been widely prescribed since the mid‐1990s. For studies including boys born after 1995, a strong correlation was noted between country‐level autism/ASD prevalence in males and a country's circumcision rate (r = 0.98) (Bauer 2013). "Taken together, these ecological findings and mechanistic evidence suggest the need for formal study of the role of paracetamol in autism" (Bauer 2013).

In a recent Spanish birth cohort study Avella‐Garcia and co‐workers reported on 2644 mother‐child pairs recruited during pregnancy of whom 43% of children evaluated at age one year (N = 2195) and 41% of those assessed at age five years (N = 2001) were exposed to acetaminophen up to 32 weeks PMA (Avella‐Garcia 2016). They concluded that prenatal exposure to acetaminophen may affect attention function at five years of age, affecting males and females differently. The results suggest an association with hyperactivity/impulsivity behaviours for all children and that the associations appear to be dependent on the frequency of exposure, but further dosage assessments are warranted (Avella‐Garcia 2016).

How the intervention might work

Paracetamol is a derivative of acetanilide with analgesic, antipyretic and weak anti‐inflammatory properties. It is used as a common analgesic in all age groups but may cause liver, blood cell and kidney damage (National Library of Medicine 2013). Paracetamol in low concentrations stimulates, and in high concentrations inhibits, the synthesis of prostaglandins. In vivo (in adults), 500 mg of paracetamol causes a pronounced reduction in prostacyclin synthesis but has no effect on thromboxane synthesis (Grèen 1989). In vitro paracetamol is a weak inhibitor of cyclo‐oxygenase (COX)‐1 and COX‐2; therefore the possibility exists that it inhibits a so‐far unidentified form of COX, perhaps a COX‐3 (Botting 2000). In adults and children, a single dose of paracetamol provides effective analgesia for about half of patients with acute postoperative pain, for a period of about four hours, and is associated with few, mainly mild, adverse events (Toms 2008). A single dose of both intravenous propacetamol and intravenous paracetamol provides around four hours of effective analgesia for about 37% of patients with acute postoperative pain.

Why it is important to do this review

Infants may be exposed to prolonged and repeated pain during lengthy hospitalisation in neonatal intensive care units (Grunau 1998). The low tactile threshold in preterm infants when they are in the neonatal intensive care unit, while their physiological systems are unstable and immature, potentially renders them more vulnerable to the effects of repeated invasive procedures (Grunau 2006). Animal and human studies have documented how neonatal pain is associated with short‐term and long‐term adverse consequences (Fitzgerald 2009; Hall 2012). Growing evidence suggests that not only do these early events induce acute changes, but permanent structural and functional changes may result (Porter 1999). Early procedural pain in very preterm infants may contribute to impaired growth and brain development (Brummelte 2012; Vinall 2012). Enhanced survival of extremely low‐birth‐weight infants makes them more susceptible to the effects of pain and stress because of increased exposure (Hall 2012). "Effective pain management in infants requires a specialist approach ‐ analgesic protocols that have been designed for older children cannot simply be scaled down for central nervous system pain pathways and analgesic targets that are in a state of developmental transition" (Fitzgerald 2009).

The most common non‐pharmacological techniques used to treat pain include non‐nutritive sucking with or without sucrose, kangaroo care, swaddling and massage therapy (Hall 2012). Drugs used to treat neonatal pain include opiates, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, ketamine, propofol, acetaminophen and local and topical anaesthetics (Hall 2012).

In the prospective study conducted in 13 intensive care units in Paris, France, of 42,413 painful procedures, 2.1% were performed with pharmacological therapy alone; 18.2% with non‐pharmacological interventions alone; 20.8% with pharmacological, non‐pharmacological or both types of therapy; 79.2% without specific analgesia; and 34.2% while the neonate was receiving concurrent analgesic or anaesthetic infusions for other reasons. Study authors concluded, "During neonatal intensive care in the Paris region, large numbers of painful and stressful procedures were performed, the majority of which were not accompanied by analgesia" (Carbajal 2008).

A similar prospective study was conducted in 14 Canadian neonatal intensive care units between February and October 2007 (Johnston 2011b). Infants (n = 582) were followed for one week for all invasive procedures. A total of 3508 tissue‐damaging (mean = 5.8, SD = 15) and 14,085 non‐tissue‐damaging (mean = 25.6, SD = 15) procedures were recorded. Half of the procedures (46% tissue‐damaging and 57% non‐tissue‐damaging) had no analgesic interventions (Johnston 2011b). Study authors noted that parental presence had a positive influence on comfort strategies, and they offered encouragement and support to parents to remain with their infant during procedures (Johnston 2011b). Non‐pharmacological interventions for procedural pain in neonates include sensory stimulation approaches, oral sweet solutions and maternal interventions (Johnston 2011a).

Surveys of procedural pain in neonates and associated analgesic interventions have been conducted in many countries, including Australia (Foster 2013), Canada (Johnston 2011b), France (Carbajal 2008), The Netherlands (Roofthooft 2014), Japan (Ozawa 2013), Korea (Jeong 2013), Italy (Lago 2013) and Sweden (Gradin 2011). Although adherence to national or international pain guidelines has increased, infant pain remains under‐treated.

Paracetamol offers an advantage over other pain‐reducing interventions in that it can be administered via nasogastric tube, intravenously or rectally. In a review of health policy and health economics related to neonatal pain, Lee was not able to identify any studies that examined quality of life adjustment strictly as a function of pain (Lee 2007).

Controversy continues regarding the safety and long‐term impact of many interventions aimed at reducing stress or pain (or both) in neonates (McPherson 2014). These interventions include sucrose, anaesthetics and pharmacological agents (benzodiazepines and opioids) (McPherson 2014).

The possible link between perinatal exposure to paracetamol and autism has recently been raised and needs to be explored further (Bauer 2013).

Researchers and healthcare providers working with neonates have an obligation to reduce painful stimuli and interventions and to identify effective pain‐reducing pharmacological and non‐pharmacological agents. Paracetamol may be one such agent. By performing this review, we hope to ascertain which types of pain are amenable to treatment with paracetamol.

Objectives

Primary objective

To determine the efficacy and safety of paracetamol for the prevention or treatment of procedural/postoperative pain or pain associated with clinical conditions in neonates.

Secondary objective

To review the effects of various doses and routes of administration (enteral, intravenous or rectal) of paracetamol for the prevention or treatment of pain in neonates. We designed the main comparisons according to intention of use, that is, paracetamol for prevention or treatment of pain. We included separate comparisons based on the painful intervention/procedure/condition (heel lance, insertion of nasogastric tube, insertion of intravenous catheter, lumbar puncture, assisted vaginal birth, postoperative pain, birth trauma, congenital anomalies such as myelomeningocoele and open cutaneous lesions) and the mode of administration of paracetamol. Within these comparisons, we planned to assess in subgroups (when possible) effects based on postmenstrual age (PMA) at the birth of randomly assigned infants (< 28 weeks, 28 weeks to 31 weeks, 32 weeks to 36 weeks and ≥ 37 weeks) or based on birth weight (or current weight) categories (≤ 1000 grams, 1001 to 1500 grams, 1501 to 2500 grams and ≥ 2501 grams).

Methods

Criteria for considering studies for this review

Types of studies

We included randomised and quasi‐randomised controlled trials of paracetamol for the prevention or treatment of pain in neonates. We planned to include cluster‐randomised trials. We did not include cross‐over trials. We did not include letters to editors, narrative reviews and editorials, but we read these to identify eligible articles.

Types of participants

Term or preterm neonates who underwent one or more of the following painful procedures during their hospital stay or as outpatients: heel lance, venipuncture, lumbar puncture, bladder tap, insertion of nasogastric tubes, insertion of endotracheal tubes, insertion of venous or arterial catheters/lines or chest drains, etc. or surgery (including any surgery performed in the operating room); or who have a clinical condition that is painful (such as a fractured long bone, myelomeningocoele, necrotizing enterocolitis, open skin lesions from an inherited skin disorder or pain from assisted vaginal birth, etc.). We did not include infant pain relief for neonatal circumcision, as a Cochrane review has been published, and it does include the use of acetaminophen (paracetamol) (Brady‐Fryer 2004). We included newborn infants born at term up to postnatal age of 30 days. We included studies in preterm infants if they were enrolled up to 30 days beyond the expected date of birth (i.e. after reaching 40 weeks' postmenstrual age (PMA)).

Types of interventions

Paracetamol at any dose, administered intravenously, orally (or via nasogastric tube) or rectally, compared with placebo, no intervention or another pain‐reducing intervention (non‐pharmacological (sucrose, glucose, other sweet‐tasting solution, breast milk, skin‐to‐skin care or other) or a pharmacological agent (morphine, local or regional anaesthesia, or other)) for the prevention or treatment of pain. We included studies that reported on single administration of paracetamol or multiple (repeated) doses of paracetamol over a prolonged period during the initial hospital stay. Analyses of repeat administration of paracetamol would focus on potential adverse effects.

Types of outcome measures

Primary outcomes

Pain scores/indicators as measured by a validated tool

Behavioural (cry duration, proportion of time crying, facial actions).
Physiological (heart rate, respiratory rate, saturation of peripheral oxygen in the blood (SpO₂), transcutaneous oxygen and carbon dioxide (gas exchange measured across the skin — TcpO₂, TcpCO₂).
Validated composite pain scores.
Combination of these.

We measured the change from baseline values or the difference between absolute scores in intervention and control groups following treatment with the first dose of paracetamol. In keeping with a post hoc decision, we included maximum scores within 3 minutes of the painful intervention.

Secondary outcomes

Short‐term outcomes

Plasma, salivary or urinary cortisol levels (n mol/L or µg/dL) as a change from baseline values or as the difference between absolute values in intervention and control groups in keeping with treatment with paracetamol.
Duration of ventilator support (days).
Duration of need for supplementary oxygen (days).
Intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) (Grade I to IV).
Severe IVH (Grade III and IV).
Spontaneous intestinal perforation.
Gastrointestinal bleed.
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (according to the international classification of ROP); any stage and stage ≥ 3.
Decreased urine output (defined as < 1 cc/kg/h) during treatment.
Peak serum/plasma levels of creatinine (mmol/L) after treatment.
Peak serum/plasma levels of aspartate transaminase (AST) (IU/L) following treatment.
AST/alanine transaminase (ALT) levels > 100 IU/mL.
Peak serum/plasma levels of ALT (IU/L) following treatment.
Peak serum bilirubin (mmol/L) following treatment.
Liver failure; evidence of acute liver injury combined with severe coagulopathy (international normalised ratio (INR) > 2.0 or prothrombin time (PT) > 20 seconds) or encephalopathy with moderate coagulopathy (INR ≥ 1.5 or PT ≥ 15 seconds) (Sundaram 2011).
Duration of hospitalisation (total length of hospitalisation from birth to discharge home or death) (days).
Parent satisfaction with care provided in the NICU (as measured by a validated instrument/tool) (Butt 2013).

Long‐term outcomes

Infant mortality (death during first year of life).
Neurodevelopmental outcome (assessed by a standardised and validated assessment tool, a child developmental specialist or both) reported at any age (we will group outcome data at 18 months and 24 months, if available).
Altered reactions to painful stimuli following NICU discharge.
Autism/autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in childhood (American Psychiatric Association 2013; Bauer 2013).
Other side effects reported by study authors (not prespecified).

Search methods for identification of studies

See the Collaborative Review Group search strategy (Cochrane Neonatal Group 2013).

Electronic searches

For the May 2016 update we used the criteria and standard methods of Cochrane and the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group (see the Cochrane Neonatal Group search strategy for specialized register).

We conducted a comprehensive search including: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL 2016, Issue 4) in the Cochrane Library; MEDLINE via PubMed (1966 to 9 May 2016); Embase (1980 to 9 May 2016); and CINAHL (1982 to 9 May 2016) using the following search terms: (paracetamol OR acetaminophen), plus database‐specific limiters for RCTs and neonates (see Appendix 1 for the full search strategies for each database). We did not apply language restrictions. We searched clinical trials' registries for ongoing or recently completed trials (clinicaltrials.gov; the World Health Organization’s International Trials Registry and Platform (www.whoint/ictrp/search/en/); and the ISRCTN Registry).

For the previous searches we used the standard search strategy of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group as outlined in the Cochrane Library. This includes electronic searches of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE (1966 to 13 October 2014), Embase (1980 to 13 October 2014) and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) (1982 to 13 October 2014). Key words and MeSH terms included infant/newborn/neonate, pain, paracetamol (acetaminophen) and (random allocation or randomised controlled trial or controlled trial). We identified relevant reviews related to the topic. We applied no language restriction.

We conducted electronic searches of abstracts from the meetings of the Pediatric Academic Societies (2000 to October 2014) and the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (2010 to October 2014).

We searched the following clinical trial registries for ongoing or recently completed trials: clinicaltrials.gov; controlled‐trials.com; anzctr.org.au; who.int/ictrp. We searched the Web of Science for articles quoting identified RCTs and published before 2012.

We searched the first 200 hits on Google Scholar^TM to identify grey literature in November 2014 and May 2016. We limited the Google Scholar^TM search to the first 200 hits as in our experience the yield after 200 hits is poor.

Searching other resources

We performed manual searches of the reference lists of full‐text versions of eligible articles (RCTs and reviews) identified in the primary search of the literature.

Data collection and analysis

We used the standard methods of Cochrane and its Neonatal Review Group.

Selection of studies

Two review authors (AO and PS) independently assessed study eligibility for inclusion in this review according to prespecified selection criteria.

Data extraction and management

Two review authors (AO and PS) independently extracted data from the full‐text articles using a specifically designed spreadsheet/customised form to manage information. We used these forms to decide trial inclusion/exclusion, to extract data from eligible trials and to request additional published information from authors of the original reports. We entered and cross‐checked data using RevMan 5 software (RevMan 2014). We compared the extracted data for differences. When noted, we resolved differences by mutual discussion and consensus.

Assessment of risk of bias in included studies

The two review authors evaluated the following headings and associated questions (based on questions in the 'Risk of bias' tables) and entered details into the 'Risk of bias' tables. We attempted to obtain the study protocol for each included study to ascertain deviations between the protocol and the full publication of the study.

Selection bias (random sequence generation and allocation concealment)

Sequence generation

For each included study, we categorised the risk of selection bias as follows.

Low risk – adequate (any truly random process, e.g. random number table, computer random number generator).
High risk – inadequate (any non‐random process, e.g. odd or even date of birth, hospital or clinic record number).
Unclear risk – no or unclear information provided.

Allocation concealment

For each included study, we categorised the risk of bias regarding allocation concealment as follows.

Low risk – adequate (e.g. telephone or central randomisation; consecutively numbered, sealed, opaque envelopes).
High risk – inadequate (e.g. open random allocation, unsealed or non‐opaque envelopes, alternation, date of birth).
Unclear risk – no or unclear information provided.

Blinding of participants, personnel and outcome assessors (performance and detection bias)

For each included study, we categorised methods used to blind study personnel from knowledge of which intervention a participant received (as our study population will consist of neonates, all will be blinded to the study intervention).

Low risk – adequate for personnel (a placebo that could not be distinguished from the active drug was used in the control group).
High risk – inadequate (personnel aware of group assignment).
Unclear risk – no or unclear information provided.

For each included study, we categorised the methods used to blind outcome assessors from knowledge of which intervention a participant received (as our study population consisted of neonates, all were blinded to the study intervention). We assessed blinding separately for different outcomes or classes of outcomes. We categorised the methods used with regards to detection bias as follows.

Low risk – adequate (follow‐up was performed with assessors blinded to group).
High risk – inadequate (assessors at follow‐up were aware of group assignment).
Unclear risk – no or unclear information provided.

Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)

For each included study and for each outcome, we described the completeness of data including attrition and exclusions from analysis. We noted whether attrition and exclusions were reported, numbers included in the analysis at each stage (compared with total randomly assigned participants), whether reasons for attrition or exclusion were reported and whether missing data were balanced across groups or were related to outcomes. When sufficient information was reported or was supplied by trial authors, we planned to re‐include missing data in the analyses. We categorised the methods with respect to risk of attrition bias as follows.

Low risk – adequate (less than 10% missing data).
High risk – inadequate (more than 10% missing data).
Unclear risk – no or unclear information provided.

Selective outcome reporting (reporting bias)

For each included study, we described how we investigated the risk of selective outcome reporting bias and what we found. We assessed methods as follows.

Low risk – adequate (when it is clear that all of the study's prespecified outcomes and all expected outcomes of interest to the review have been reported).
High risk – inadequate (when not all of the study's prespecified outcomes have been reported; one or more reported primary outcomes were not prespecified; outcomes of interest are reported incompletely and so cannot be used; study fails to include results of a key outcome that would have been expected to have been reported).
Unclear risk – no or unclear information provided (the study protocol was not available).

Other bias

For each included study, we described important concerns that we have about other possible sources of bias (e.g. whether a potential source of bias was related to the specific study design, whether the trial was stopped early because of some data‐dependent process). We assessed whether each study was free of other problems that could put it at risk of bias as follows.

Low risk (no concerns of other bias raised).
High risk (concerns raised about multiple looks at the data with results made known to investigators, difference in numbers of participants enrolled, as stated in the abstract and in final publications of the paper).
Unclear (concerns raised about potential sources of bias that could not be verified by contacting study authors).

Overall risk of bias

We made explicit judgements about whether studies were at high risk of bias, according to criteria given in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (Higgins 2011). We assessed the likely magnitude and direction of the bias, and whether we considered it was likely to impact the findings. We planned to explore the impact of the level of bias by undertaking sensitivity analyses.

Measures of treatment effect

We analysed treatment effects in the individual trials using RevMan 5 (RevMan 2014).

Dichotomous data

We reported dichotomous data using risk ratio (RR) and risk difference (RD) with respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs). For those outcomes with a statistically significant RD for the pooled estimate from the meta‐analysis, we planned to calculate the number needed to treat for an additional beneficial outcome (NNTB) or the number needed to treat for an additional harmful outcome (NNTH) with respective 95% CIs.

Continuous data

We reported continuous data using mean difference (MD) with 95% CI.

Unit of analysis issues

The unit of randomisation was the intended unit of analysis (the individual infant). We did not identify any cluster‐randomised trials. If we had identified cluster‐randomised trials, the unit of analysis would have been the cluster (an individual NICU or a section of an NICU that was randomly assigned to treatment with paracetamol or to a control group). We planned to include cluster‐randomised trials in the analyses, along with trials that randomly assigned individual participants. We planned to analyse them using methods described in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (Higgins 2011), using an estimate of the intracluster correlation coefficient (ICC) derived from the trial (if possible) or from another source. We planned to report this and to conduct sensitivity analyses to investigate the effects of variation in the ICC if ICCs from other sources were used. We planned to synthesise the relevant information if we identified both cluster‐randomised trials and participant‐level randomised trials. We considered it reasonable to combine the results from both if little heterogeneity between study designs was noted, and if interaction between the effect of the intervention and the choice of randomisation unit was unlikely.

At the protocol stage, we raised concerns regarding 'multiple' measures within one randomisation or different randomisation, and the impact on pain outcomes. Even if the infant remained in one randomly assigned group with multiple data points for an intervention, how to handle such data in RevMan 5 can be an issue. Do we take mean or median and generate variance around estimates from means of multiple measures? These are problematic issues for trials as well as for meta‐analyses. To simplify the review and to avoid dependency of measures (if an individual is 'hyper or hypo algesic', it may affect the results several times if randomly assigned to the same group), the next best approach would be to take only the first procedure after randomisation. Thus, even if a study had randomly assigned a participant multiple times, we intended to seek results for the first procedure after randomisation and to only include these in the primary analyses. We intended to carry out further exploration in the form of sensitivity analyses to check what the change in effect size would be, when the means or medians of multiple procedures were combined. We intended to contact study authors to request data resulting from the first randomisation. If we could not separate data from the first randomisation, we would exclude the study. For the full review, we included only the first procedure after randomisation.

Dealing with missing data

We requested additional data from the authors of each trial if data on important outcomes were missing or needed clarification (see the Characteristics of included studies table for details). Analyses were performed by intention to treat. When data were still missing, we planned to report the number of infants and to examine the effects of losses in a sensitivity analysis using a best/worst‐case scenario.

Assessment of heterogeneity

We used RevMan 5 software to assess heterogeneity of treatment effects between trials. We used the following two formal statistics.

Chi² test to assess whether observed variability in effect sizes between studies was greater than would be expected by chance. As this test has low power when the number of studies included in the meta‐analysis is small, we set the alpha probability at the 10% level of significance.
I² statistic to ensure that pooling of data was valid. We graded the degree of heterogeneity as none, low, moderate or high for values of less than 25%, 25% to 49%, 50% to 74% and 75% and above, respectively (Higgins 2003). When we found evidence of apparent statistical heterogeneity, we planned to assess the source of the heterogeneity using sensitivity and subgroup analyses, looking for evidence of bias or methodological differences between trials.

As no single meta‐analysis included more than one trial, assessment of heterogeneity was not applicable for any of the comparisons/analyses.

Assessment of reporting biases

We identified the study protocols for many of the trials that we selected for inclusion (see the 'Risk of bias' tables). We planned to assess reporting and publication bias by examining the degree of asymmetry of a funnel plot in RevMan 5 provided that a sufficient number of studies were available (n = 10) (Higgins 2011). This did not apply to any of the meta‐analyses.

Data synthesis

We performed statistical analyses according to the recommendations of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group (Cochrane Neonatal Group 2013). We analysed all infants randomly assigned on an intention‐to‐treat basis. We used a fixed‐effect model to combine the data in a meta‐analysis in the first instance. If substantial heterogeneity was identified, we planned to examine the potential cause in subgroup and sensitivity analyses. If we had judged meta‐analysis to be inappropriate, we planned to analyse and interpret individual trials separately. For estimates of typical RR and RD, we used the Mantel‐Haenszel method. For measured quantities, we used the inverse variance method. We used the mean difference (MD) with 95% CI for synthesis of the same continuous measures. We planned to calculate NNTB and NNTH with 95% CIs if the RD was statistically significant. We planned to use the standardised mean difference (SMD) to combine trials that measured the same outcome but used different scales. If results from different pain assessment scales were to be combined, the scales would need to include the same components. If results were presented as medians and interquartile ranges (IQRs) we transformed the data to means and SDs using the formulas published by Wan 2014.

Quality of evidence

We used the GRADE approach, as outlined in the GRADE Handbook (Schünemann 2013), to assess the quality of evidence for the following (clinically relevant) outcomes: validated pain score (PIPP score) after procedure (heel lance or eye examination) and duration of crying.

Two authors independently assessed the quality of the evidence for each of the outcomes above. We considered evidence from randomised controlled trials as high quality but downgraded the evidence one level for serious (or two levels for very serious) limitations based upon the following: design (risk of bias), consistency across studies, directness of the evidence, precision of estimates and presence of publication bias. We used the GRADEpro Guideline Development Tool to create a ‘Summary of findings’ table to report the quality of the evidence.

The GRADE approach results in an assessment of the quality of a body of evidence in one of four grades:

High: We are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect.
Moderate: We are moderately confident in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different.
Low: Our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: the true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect.
Very low: We have very little confidence in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect.

Subgroup analysis and investigation of heterogeneity

We designed the main comparisons according to intention of use: paracetamol for prevention or treatment of pain. We planned to include separate comparisons based on the painful intervention/procedure/condition (heel lance, insertion of nasogastric tubes, insertion of intravenous catheters, lumbar puncture, postoperative pain, birth trauma, congenital anomalies (myelomeningocoele, open cutaneous lesions)) and the mode of administration of paracetamol. Within these comparisons, we planned to assess in subgroups (when possible) effects based on PMA at the birth of randomly assigned infants (< 28 weeks, 28 weeks to 31 weeks, 32 weeks to 36 weeks and ≥ 37 weeks) and by birth weight or body weight categories (≤ 1000 grams, 1001 to 1500 grams, 1501 to 2500 grams and ≥ 2501 grams). We report our findings based on the painful intervention/procedure/condition, but we were not able to perform subgroup analyses based on PMA or weight criteria.

We planned to meta‐analyse the data from various studies only if sufficient homogeneity was identified in populations studied, types of painful procedures, route and timing of administration of paracetamol and types of outcomes reported. If significant heterogeneity was identified, we planned to conduct only a systematic review and not a meta‐analysis.

Sensitivity analysis

We planned to perform a sensitivity analysis to determine whether findings were affected by including only studies of adequate methodology, defined as adequate randomisation and allocation concealment, blinding of intervention and measurement and less than 10% losses to follow‐up. Because no two identified studies included identical treatment for a certain painful intervention, we were not able to include at least two studies in a meta‐analysis; therefore sensitivity analyses were not indicated.

Results

Description of studies

Results of the search

Our searches identified nine studies for inclusion (Shah 1998; van Lingen 2001; Bonetto 2008; Badiee 2009; Manjunatha 2009; Ceelie 2013; Seifi 2013; Tinner 2013; Kabataş 2016); and one ongoing study (NCT01938261). These studies were conducted in Iran (Badiee 2009; Seifi 2013), Argentina (Bonetto 2008), The Netherlands (van Lingen 2001; Ceelie 2013), the UK (Manjunatha 2009), Canada (Shah 1998), Switzerland (Tinner 2013) and Turkey (Kabataş 2016). An ongoing study is being conducted in Finland (NCT01938261). The results of previous and the current literature searches are shown in the Study flow diagram (Figure 1).

Included studies

All studies applied paracetamol for the treatment of pain. No studies for the prevention of pain were identified. For details see the Table Characteristics of included studies.

Badiee 2009 was a single‐centre study conducted at Alzahra University Hospital, Isfahan, Iran, during the period of April 2007 to August 2007.

Objective: to evaluate whether high‐dose paracetamol (40 mg/kg orally) relieves pain in preterm infants.
Population: 72 preterm neonates (≤ 34 weeks' PMA, age ≥ 24 hours, no feeding for at least 30 minutes, Apgar scores > 3 at 5 minutes). 36 infants in each group.
Intervention: treatment group received oral paracetamol 40 mg/kg, and placebo group received sterile water 90 minutes before heel lance.
Outcomes: PIPP and crying time during the first 3 minutes of the procedure. Differences in SpO₂ and heart rate between baseline and heel lancing period.
Notes: Dr Badiee informed us on 5 January 2015 that the paracetamol solution looked similar to sterile water.

Bonetto 2008 was a single‐centre study conducted at Sanatorium Allende, Córdoba, Argentina, during November and December 2007.

Objective: to assess whether administration of oral glucose, paracetamol or EMLA, given individually, can reduce the pain caused in newborns by heel lance, in an outpatient setting.
Population: newborns of 36 weeks' PMA or more, more than 24 hours old and less than 30 days old, who needed blood tests for neonatal screening.
Intervention: oral glucose (n = 19) or oral paracetamol (20 mg/kg; 2 drops/kg) (n = 19) or EMLA to the heel (n = 19) and oral placebo (2 drops/kg distilled water) and placebo to the heel (n = 19).
Outcomes: maximum NIPS and PIPP scores from the start of the heel lance to 3 minutes after the heel lance procedure.

Ceelie 2013 was a single‐centre study conducted at a level III paediatric intensive care unit in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, between March 2008 and July 2010.

Objective: to determine whether intravenous paracetamol (acetaminophen) would significantly (30%) reduce morphine requirements in neonates and infants after major surgery.
Population: 71 neonates or infants younger than one year undergoing major thoracic (noncardiac) or abdominal surgery.
Intervention: all participants received a loading dose of morphine 30 minutes before the end of surgery, followed by continuous morphine or intermittent intravenous paracetamol up to 48 hours post surgery. Infants in both study groups received morphine (boluses and/or continuous infusion) as rescue medication on the guidance of the validated pain assessment instruments.
Outcomes: primary outcome was cumulative morphine dose (study and rescue dose). Secondary outcomes were pain scores and morphine‐related adverse effects.
Notes: we obtained unpublished information from Dr Saskia N de Wildt, one of the study authors, for the 41 infants who were 30 days of age or less at enrolment.

In a deviation from the protocol, we included this study that reported on infants randomly assigned to receive continuous morphine or intermittent intravenous paracetamol up to 48 hours post major thoracic or abdominal surgery (Ceelie 2013). The study reported on the following outcomes, which were not prespecified in our protocol.

- Total amount of morphine administered (µg/kg) over 48 hours.
- Any adverse event during postoperative care.
- Re‐intubation during postoperative care.
- Apnoea during postoperative care.
- Apnoea with naloxone during postoperative care.
- Bradycardia during postoperative care.
- Urinary retention during postoperative care.

Kabataş 2016 was a single‐centre study conducted at the NICU of Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Study period: January 2013 through June 2014.

Objective: to investigate the efficacy of paracetamol in reducing pain during examination for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants.
Population: very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (< 1500 g) who were candidates for ROP screening (n = 114).
Intervention: oral paracetamol 15 mg/kg (n = 58) or oral placebo (sterile water) (n = 56).
Outcomes: PIPP score during examination (median IQR); crying time (s) (mean and SD).
Notes: PIPP score during examination were presented as medians and IQRs. We transformed the data to means and SDs using the formulas presented by Wan 2014.

Manjunatha 2009 was a single‐centre study conducted at Wishaw General Hospital, Lanarkshire, UK, between 2003 and 2005.

Objective: to ascertain if and to what extent neonates experience pain and discomfort during ROP screening and to compare the effect of paracetamol, oral morphine or placebo on markers of pain in preterm infants.
Population: infants who satisfied the criteria for ROP screening (≤ 31 weeks of gestation, or ≤ 1.5 kg birth weight).
Intervention: infants were randomly assigned to one of three groups and were given placebo (n = 6), paracetamol (20 mg/kg) (n = 6) or oral morphine sulphate (200 μg/kg) (n = 6), one hour before the eye examination.
Outcomes: PIPP.
Notes: Dr Manjunatha and Ms Hazel Fisher (Senior Pharmacist) volunteered, "The 3 solutions looked identical (clear, colourless solutions). The diluent for all 3 solutions was hydroxybenzoate, with the placebo being made up with preserved water".

Seifi 2013 was a single‐centre study conducted in a tertiary level neonatal intensive care unit at Al Zahra Hospital, Tabriz, Iran, from October 2011 to October 2012.

Objective: to compare the efficacy of sucrose and acetaminophen in pain control during eye examination in preterm infants.
Population: preterm infants less than 32 weeks' PMA.
Intervention: Group A (n = 41) received oral acetaminophen 15 mg/kg 30 minutes before eye examination and 0.2 mL sterile water during initiation of eye examination. Group B (n = 40) received 0.2 mL sucrose (25%) during initiation of eye examination. Group C (n = 39) received 0.2 mL sterile water as placebo during initiation of eye examination.
Outcomes: PIPP during first 45 seconds and last 45 seconds of eye examination.

Shah 1998 was a single‐centre study conducted at the level III NICU at Women's College Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of paracetamol in decreasing pain caused by heel lance.
Population: 75 term neonates undergoing heel lance.
Intervention: 60 to 90 minutes before the procedure, neonates received paracetamol orally at a dose of 20 mg/kg (n = 38) or an equal volume of placebo (n = 37).
Outcomes: per cent facial action (brow bulge, eye squeeze and nasolabial fold) (range 0% to 300%); and per cent of time spent crying (range 0% to 100%). Pain assessments were made from videotapes by a research assistant blinded to treatment allocation.

Tinner 2013 was a multi‐centre study conducted at the University Hospitals of Basel, Bern, and Zürich, Switzerland.

Objective: to assess the efficacy of paracetamol (acetaminophen) for neonatal pain relief.
Population: term and near‐term infants (n = 123) delivered by forceps or vacuum.
Intervention: Infants were randomly assigned to receive two suppositories with paracetamol (60/80/100 mg in infants < 3000 grams/3000 to 4000 grams/> 4000 grams birth weight) (n = 62) or placebo at two hours and eight hours of life (n = 61).
Outcomes: Pain and discomfort during the first 24 hours were assessed by the Échelle de Douleur et d’Inconfort du Nouveau‐né (neonatal pain and discomfort scale) score. The response to the subsequent heel prick for metabolic screening at days 2 to 3 of life was assessed by the Bernese Pain Scale for Neonates (BPSN).

The study by van Lingen 2001 was conducted at two level II hospitals in The Netherlands during a 15‐month period.

Objective: to evaluate whether paracetamol (20 mg/kg rectally) relieves pain in infants delivered by vacuum extraction, and if it improves the clinical condition.
Population: infants born by vacuum extraction with birth weight more than 2500 grams, gestational age more than 36 weeks, Apgar score at 5 minutes of 7 or more and absence of congenital anomalies of the newborn.
Intervention: 61 infants were given paracetamol suppositories rectally. The dose of paracetamol used was as close to 20 mg/kg as available strengths of suppository (50 mg for birth weight 2500 to 2749 grams, 60 mg for birth weight 2750 to 3249 grams, 70 mg for birth weight 3250 to 3749 grams and 80 mg for birth weight 3750 grams and above) would allow. At 6, 12 and 18 hours thereafter, they received another suppository from the same batch. Paracetamol was suspended in Witepof sol H‐15 as a fatty suppository base. In the placebo group, 61 infants received a rectal suppository with only a Witepsol H‐15 base.
Outcomes: a modified five‐point facies scale at 1, 7, 13 and 19 hours after the first suppository had been given.

Excluded studies

Hong 2010 enrolled infants/children who were six to 24 months old and therefore did not meet our inclusion criteria.

The median age of children participating in van der Marel 2007 was 0 months; 25th to 75th percentile 0 to 2 months. Some infants would therefore qualify for our review. We wrote to the first study author (van der Marel) in November 2014, but were unable to obtain data for infants who were less than 30 days of age at the time of randomisation. We wrote in May 2015 to two of the senior authors of the study (Drs van den Anker and Tibboel) to try to obtain the information but as of 24 June 2015 we have received no information on the infants who were less than 30 days of age (van der Marel 2007).

Härmä 2016 was a before‐and‐after study that showed that intravenous paracetamol decreases requirements of morphine in very preterm infants.

Two studies are awaiting classification as they were presented in abstract form only and no data could be used in our analyses (Foronda 2014; Garbi 2016).

Risk of bias in included studies

We report in the Characteristics of included studies table details of risk of bias in the included studies, and we provide summaries of risk of bias for the included studies in Figure 2 and Figure 3. Overall we consider the risk of bias for these studies to be low.

Risk of bias graph: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item presented as percentages across all included studies.

Risk of bias summary: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item for each included study.

Allocation

The random sequence was computer generated in eight trials (Shah 1998; van Lingen 2001; Bonetto 2008; Badiee 2009; Ceelie 2013; Seifi 2013; Tinner 2013; Kabataş 2016); and in one trial, the random sequence was generated by the pharmacist pulling folded tickets out of a bag with morphine, paracetamol or placebo on the ticket (Manjunatha 2009). Equal numbers of tickets were included in each arm in the bag, and all tickets were allocated: we judged the risk as low (Manjunatha 2009). Allocation to treatment groups was concealed in eight trials (Shah 1998; van Lingen 2001; Badiee 2009; Manjunatha 2009; Ceelie 2013; Seifi 2013; Tinner 2013; Kabataş 2016); and was unclear in one trial (Bonetto 2008).

Blinding

For blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias), risk of bias was low in eight trials (Shah 1998; van Lingen 2001; Bonetto 2008; Badiee 2009; Manjunatha 2009; Ceelie 2013; Tinner 2013; Kabataş 2016); and was unclear in one trial (Seifi 2013). For blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias), risk of bias was low for all included studies (Shah 1998; van Lingen 2001; Bonetto 2008; Badiee 2009; Manjunatha 2009; Ceelie 2013; Seifi 2013; Tinner 2013; Kabataş 2016).

Incomplete outcome data

We assessed risk of attrition bias as low for all bar one of included studies (van Lingen 2001; Bonetto 2008; Badiee 2009; Manjunatha 2009; Ceelie 2013; Seifi 2013; Tinner 2013; Kabataş 2016), the exception being Shah 1998, for which our judgement was 'high risk'. In that study, outcome data were missing for nine infants who had multiple heel lances; and in one infant, the video recording was of poor quality (missing data in 10 of 75 infants ‒ 13%).

Selective reporting

For seven studies, the study protocol was not available to us; we therefore judged risk of reporting bias as unclear for those studies (Shah 1998; van Lingen 2001; Bonetto 2008; Badiee 2009; Manjunatha 2009; Seifi 2013; Kabataş 2016). Two studies were entered into trials registries, and we did not detect deviations between the protocol and the full report. Therefore we judged risk of reporting bias as low in those trials (Ceelie 2013; Tinner 2013).

Other potential sources of bias

We judged the risk of other bias as low for all included trials.

Effects of interventions

See: Table 1

All studies applied paracetamol for the treatment of pain. We identified no studies on paracetamol for the prevention of pain.

Paracetamol for the treatment of pain

Only short‐term outcomes were reported.

As only one trial is included in any of the analyses below, tests for heterogeneity are not applicable.

Heel lance ‒ paracetamol (oral) vs sterile water (oral) (Comparison 1)

Primary outcomes

Pain scores

PIPP score (difference between baseline and heel lance period) ‒ Outcome 1.1 (Analysis 1.1)

One study including 72 preterm infants reported no significant differences in PIPP score between baseline and the heel lance period for the oral paracetamol group versus the oral sterile water group (MD 1.40, 95% CI −0.45 to 3.25) (Badiee 2009).

PIPP score (maximum score within three minutes following lancing) ‒ Outcome 1.5 (Analysis 1.2)

One study including 38 infants reported no significant differences in PIPP score within three minutes following lancing (MD 1.48, 95% CI −0.11 to 3.07) for the oral paracetamol group versus the oral sterile water group (Bonetto 2008).

NIPS score (maximum score within three minutes following lancing) ‒ Outcome 1.6 (Analysis 1.3)

One study including 38 infants reported no significant differences in NIPS score within three minutes following lancing (MD 0.85, 95% CI −0.14 to 1.84) for the oral paracetamol group versus the oral sterile water group (Bonetto 2008).

Physiological measures

Duration of crying (seconds) during first three minutes of the heel lance procedure ‒ Outcome 1.2 (Analysis 1.4)

One study including 72 preterm infants reported no significant differences in duration of crying for the oral paracetamol group versus the oral sterile water group (MD 8 seconds, 95% CI −19 to 35 seconds) (Badiee 2009).

Difference (%) in SpO ₂between baseline and heel lance period – Outcome 1.3 (Analysis 1.5)

One study including 72 preterm infants reported no significant differences (%) in SpO₂ between baseline and the heel lance period for the oral paracetamol group versus the oral sterile water group (MD 2.6%, 95% CI −0.58% to 5.78%) (Badiee 2009).

Difference in heart rate (beats/min) between baseline and heel lance period ‒ Outcome 1.4 (Analysis 1.6)

One study including 72 preterm infants reported no significant differences in heart rate (beats/min) between baseline and the heel lance period (MD 2 beats/min, 95% CI −5 to 9) for the oral paracetamol group versus the oral sterile water group (Badiee 2009).

Heel lance ‒ paracetamol (oral) vs glucose (oral) (Comparison 2)

Primary outcomes

Pain scores

PIPP score (maximum score within three minutes following lancing) ‒ Outcome 2.1 (Analysis 2.1) (Figure 4)

Forest plot of comparison: 2 Heel lance ‐ paracetamol (oral) vs glucose (oral), outcome: 2.1 PIPP (maximum score within 3 minutes following lancing).

One study including 38 infants reported significant differences in maximum PIPP score within three minutes following lancing (MD 2.21, 95% CI 0.72 to 3.70) for the oral paracetamol group versus the oral glucose group. PIPP score was higher in the oral paracetamol group than in the glucose group (Bonetto 2008).

NIPS score(maximum score within three minutes following lancing) ‒ Outcome 2.2 (Analysis 2.2)

One study including 38 infants reported a significant difference in maximum NIPS score within three minutes following lancing (MD 1.32, 95% CI 0.40 to 2.24) for the oral paracetamol group versus the oral glucose group. NIPS score was higher in the oral paracetamol group than in the glucose group (Bonetto 2008).

Heel lance ‒ paracetamol (oral) vs EMLA (cutaneous) (Comparison 3)

Primary outcomes

Pain scores

PIPP score (maximum score within three minutes following lancing) ‒ Outcome 3.1 (Analysis 3.1)

One study including 38 infants reported no significant differences in maximum PIPP score within three minutes following lancing (MD 1.21, 95% CI −0.38 to 2.80) for the oral paracetamol group versus the EMLA (cutaneous) group (Bonetto 2008).

NIPS score (maximum score within three minutes following lancing) ‒ Outcome 3.1 (Analysis 3.1)

One study including 38 infants reported no significant differences in maximum NIPS score within three minutes following lancing (MD 0.58, 95% CI −0.34 to 1.50) for the oral paracetamol group versus the EMLA (cutaneous) group (Bonetto 2008).

Heel lance ‒ paracetamol (oral paracetamol cherry elixir) vs placebo (oral cherry elixir) (Comparison 4)

Primary outcomes

Pain scores

Facial action score (%) during heel lance (range 0% to 300%) ‒ Outcome 4.1 (Analysis 4.1)

One study including 65 infants reported no significant differences in facial action score (%) for the oral paracetamol cherry elixir group versus the oral cherry elixir (placebo) group (MD 12.4%, 95% CI −15.3 to 40.1) (Shah 1998).

Time spent crying (%) (range 0 to 100%) ‒ Outcome 4.2 (Analysis 4.2)

One study including 65 infants reported no significant differences in time spent crying (%) for the oral paracetamol cherry elixir group versus the cherry elixir (placebo) group (MD 2.6%, 95% CI −7.2 to 12.4) (Shah 1998).

Assisted vaginal birth (vacuum extraction or forceps) ‒ paracetamol suppositories vs placebo suppositories (Comparison 5)

Primary outcomes

Pain scores

Modified facies scores (possible score 0 to 4) 0, 1 or 2 at 1, 7, 13 and 19 hours) ‒ Outcome 5.1 (Analysis 5.1)

One study including 119 infants reported no significant differences in modified facies score of 0, 1 or 2 at 1, 7, 13 and 19 hours (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.20; RD −0.04, 95% CI −0.20 to 0.13) for the paracetamol suppositories group versus the placebo suppositories group (van Lingen 2001).

Modified facies scores (possible score 0 to 4) 3 or 4 at 1, 7, 13 and 19 hours) ‒ Outcome 5.2 (Analysis 5.2)

One study including 119 infants reported no significant differences in modified facies score of 3 or 4 at 1, 7, 13 and 19 hours (RR 1.14, 95% CI 0.66 to 1.96; RD 0.04, 95% CI −0.13 to 0.20) for the paracetamol suppositories group versus the placebo suppositories group (van Lingen 2001).

EDIN score at two hours of age ‒ Outcome 5.3 (Analysis 5.3)

One study including 123 infants reported significantly higher EDIN scores at two hours of age in the paracetamol suppositories group compared with the placebo suppositories group (MD 1.00, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.40) (Tinner 2013).

EDIN score at four hours of age ‒ Outcome 5.4 (Analysis 5.4)

One study including 123 infants reported no significant differences in EDIN score at four hours of age (MD 0.00, 95% CI −0.22 to 0.22) for the paracetamol suppositories group versus the placebo suppositories group (Tinner 2013).

Differences in acute pain score (BPSN) before and after heel lance at two to three days of life (by nurses) ‒ Outcome 5.5 (Analysis 5.5)

One study including 123 infants reported significant differences in acute pain scores (BPSN) before and after heel lance at two to three days of life (as assessed by nurses) (MD 2.00, 95% CI 1.56 to 2.44) for the paracetamol suppositories group versus the placebo suppositories group (Tinner 2013).

Differences in acute pain score (BPSN) before and after heel lance at two to three days of life (by video) ‒ Outcome 5.6 (Analysis 5.6)

One study including 123 infants reported significant differences in acute pain scores (BPSN) before and after heel lance at two to three days of life (as assessed by video) (MD 2.00, 95% CI 1.47 to 2.53) for the paracetamol suppositories group versus the placebo suppositories group (Tinner 2013).

Infants who cried following heel lance at two to three days of life ‒ Outcome 5.7 (Analysis 5.7)

One study including 123 infants reported no significant differences in the number of infants who cried following heel lance (56% of infants in the paracetamol group and 41% of infants in the placebo group cried) (RR 1.38, 95% CI 0.95 to 2.00; RD 0.15, 95% CI −0.02 to 0.33) for the paracetamol suppositories group versus the placebo suppositories group (Tinner 2013).

Time spent crying (seconds) after heel lanceat two to three days of life ‒ Outcome 5.8 (Analysis 5.8)

One study including 123 infants reported significant differences in time spent crying (seconds) following heel lance at two to three days of life (MD 19 seconds, 95% CI 14 to 24) for the paracetamol suppositories group versus the placebo suppositories group (Tinner 2013).

Eye examination ‒ paracetamol (oral) vs placebo (sterile water) (Comparison 6)

Primary outcomes

Pain scores

PIPP score in first 45 seconds of eye examination ‒ Outcome 6.1 (Analysis 6.1)

One study including 80 infants found no significant differences in PIPP score in the first 45 seconds of eye examination (MD −0.80, 95% CI −1.69 to 0.09) for the oral paracetamol group versus the oral placebo (sterile water) group (Seifi 2013).

PIPP score in last 45 seconds of eye examination ‒ Outcome 6.2 (Analysis 6.2)

One study including 80 infants found no significant differences in PIPP score in the last 45 seconds of eye examination (MD 0.20, 95% CI −0.90 to 1.30) for the oral paracetamol group versus the oral placebo (sterile water) group (Seifi 2013).

PIPP score five minutes after eye examination ‒ Outcome 6.3 (Analysis 6.3)

One study including 11 infants reported no significant differences in PIPP score five minutes after eye examination (MD −1.57, 95% CI −3.79 to 0.66) for the oral paracetamol group versus the oral placebo (sterile water) group (Manjunatha 2009).

PIPP score during eye examination ‒ Outcome 6.4 (Analysis 6.4) Figure 5

Forest plot of comparison: 6 Eye examination ‐ paracetamol (oral) vs placebo (sterile water) for eye examination, outcome: 6.4 PIPP score during eye examination.

One study including 114 infants reported a significantly lower PIPP score during eye examination (MD −2.70, 95% CI −3.55 to −1.85) for the oral paracetamol group versus the oral placebo (water) group (Kabataş 2016).

Crying time during eye examination ‒ Outcome 6.5 (Analysis 6.5)

One study including 114 infants reported no significant difference in crying time (s) during eye examination (MD 5, 95% CI −2 to 11) for the oral paracetamol group versus the oral placebo (water) group (Kabataş 2016).

Infants with tachycardia during eye examination ‒ Outcome 6.6 (Analysis 6.6)

One study including 114 infants reported no significant difference in the number of infants with tachycardia during eye examination (RR 1.64, 95% CI 0.82 to 3.27; RD 0.11, 95% CI −0.04 to 0.27) for the oral paracetamol group versus the oral placebo (water) group (Kabataş 2016).

Infants with bradycardia and desaturation during eye examination ‒ Outcome 6.7 (Analysis 6.7)

One study including 114 infants reported no significant difference in the number of infants with bradycardia and desaturation during eye examination (RR 1.21, 95% CI 0.34 to 4.27; RD 0.01, 95% CI −0.08 to 0.11) for the oral paracetamol group versus the oral placebo (water) group (Kabataş 2016).

Eye examination ‒ paracetamol (oral) vs 24% sucrose (oral) (Comparison 7)

Primary outcomes

Pain scores

PIPP score in the first 45 seconds of eye examination ‒ Outcome 7.1 (Analysis 7.1) (Figure 6)

Forest plot of comparison: 7 Eye examination ‐ paracetamol (oral) vs 24% sucrose (oral), outcome: 7.1 PIPP score in first 45 seconds of eye examination.

One study including 81 infants reported significantly higher PIPP scores in the first 45 seconds of eye examination (MD 3.90, 95% CI 2.92 to 4.88) for the oral paracetamol group versus the oral 24% sucrose group (Seifi 2013).

PIPP score in the last 45 seconds of eye examination ‒ Outcome 7.2 (Analysis 7.2)

One study including 81 infants reported no significant differences in PIPP score in the last 45 seconds of eye examination (MD 1.10, 95% CI −0.08 to 2.28) for the oral paracetamol group versus the oral 24% sucrose group (Seifi 2013).

Eye examination ‒ paracetamol (oral) vs morphine (oral) (Comparison 8)

Primary outcomes

Pain scores

PIPP score five minutes after eye examination ‒ Outcome 8.1 (Analysis 8.1)

One study including 11 infants reported no significant differences in PIPP score five minutes after eye examination (MD 1.10, 95% CI −0.70 to 2.90) for the oral paracetamol group versus the oral morphine group (Manjunatha 2009).

Postoperative care ‒ paracetamol vs morphine (Comparison 9)

Secondary outcomes

Total amount of morphine (µg/kg) administered over 48 hours ‒ Outcome 9.1 (Analysis 9.1)

One study including 41 infants reported a significantly lower total amount of morphine (µg/kg) administered over 48 hours following surgery (MD −157 µg/kg, 95% CI −27 to −288) for the paracetamol group versus the morphine group (Ceelie 2013).

Any adverse event ‒ Outcome 9.2 (Analysis 9.2)

One study including 41 infants reported no significant differences in any adverse events during postoperative care (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.50 to 1.78; RD −0.03, 95% CI −0.33 to 0.28) for the paracetamol group versus the morphine group (Ceelie 2013).

Re‐intubation ‒ Outcome 9.3 (Analysis 9.3)

One study including 41 infants reported no significant differences in reintubation during postoperative care (RR 3.45, 95% CI 0.15 to 80.03; RD 0.05, 95% CI −0.08 to 0.18) for the paracetamol group versus the morphine group (Ceelie 2013).

Apnoea ‒ Outcome 9.4 (Analysis 9.4)

One study including 41 infants reported no significant differences in apnoea during postoperative care (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.26 to 2.33; RD −0.06, 95% CI −0.32 to 0.20) for the paracetamol group versus the morphine group (Ceelie 2013).

Apnoea with naloxone ‒ Outcome 9.5 (Analysis 9.5)

One study including 41 infants reported no significant differences in apnoea with naloxone during postoperative care (RR 0.23, 95% CI 0.01 to 4.51; RD −0.09, 95% CI −0.24 to 0.05) for the paracetamol group versus the morphine group (Ceelie 2013).

Bradycardia ‒ Outcome 9.6 (Analysis 9.6)

One study including 41 infants reported no significant differences in bradycardia during postoperative care (RR 1.16, 95% CI 0.33 to 4.01; RD 0.03, 95% CI −0.22 to 0.27) for the paracetamol group versus the morphine group (Ceelie 2013).

Urinary retention ‒ Outcome 9.7 (Analysis 9.7)

One study including 41 infants reported no significant differences in urinary retention during postoperative care (RR 3.45, 95% CI 0.15 to 80.03; RD 0.05, 95% CI −0.08 to 0.18) for the paracetamol group versus the morphine group (Ceelie 2013).

We identified no studies for the prevention of pain.

Discussion

Summary of main results

We identified nine studies on treatment for pain with paracetamol. We found no studies that administered paracetamol for the prevention of pain. No evidence showed a reduction in pain associated with heel lance with the use of paracetamol compared with placebo (water or cherry elixir). Glucose appears to be more effective in reducing heel lance‐associated pain than paracetamol. The results for paracetamol compared with water to reduce pain associated with eye examinations performed to ascertain the presence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) were conflicting: one study found a reduction in the PIPP score during the examination for paracetamol versus water whereas another study did not find a significant reduction in PIPP scores in the first or last 45 seconds of eye examination. The PIPP scores were higher during eye examination for the paracetamol group than for the sucrose group. Paracetamol does not reduce pain associated with assisted vaginal birth (vacuum extraction or forceps) and may increase the pain response to a subsequent heel lance two to three days later.

Regular use of paracetamol may reduce the total amount of morphine required during the first 48 hours following major thoracic or abdominal surgery. However, one study that included infants up to a postnatal age of 10 months did not find that rectal paracetamol reduced morphine consumption after major surgery (van der Marel 2007). As we were not able to obtain data on infants younger than one month of age, the study is currently entered under Characteristics of studies awaiting classification.

We identified no studies that assessed the long‐term effects of paracetamol, including the possibility of an association with autism.

Overall completeness and applicability of evidence

We identified nine studies that reported comparisons in 728 infants of paracetamol versus placebo or other pain‐reducing interventions. Because no two trials assessing the effectiveness of paracetamol for a certain painful procedure used the same outcome assessment tool, we could not conduct a meta‐analysis. No evidence is available to support or refute the safety or effectiveness of paracetamol for the prevention of neonatal pain. Available evidence suggests that paracetamol is not effective for the treatment of neonatal pain. Evidence is inadequate to support or refute its safety for this purpose.

Quality of the evidence

The quality of the included trials, although they included small sample sizes, was good in general with low risk of bias; (Figure 2 and Figure 3). Using the GRADE criteria the quality of evidence was mostly low; Table 1.

Potential biases in the review process

We are not aware of any bias in our review process. As stated under 'Declarations of interest', Dr Arne Ohlsson is a co‐author of one of the included trials (Shah 1998).

Agreements and disagreements with other studies or reviews

As we could not perform meta‐analyses, our results are consistent with results of the individual studies included in this review. We are not aware of a similar systematic review on the topic.

Authors' conclusions

The paucity and low quality of existing data do not provide evidence for the effectiveness of paracetamol for neonates exposed to painful procedures such as heel lance and eye‐examination. Paracetamol given after assisted vaginal birth may increase the response to later painful exposures. The effectiveness of paracetamol for other painful procedures/conditions in newborn infants has not been studied in randomised controlled trials. The findings of our review provide insufficient evidence to establish the role of paracetamol in reducing the effects of painful procedures in neonates.

Paracetamol may reduce the total amount of morphine required during the first 48 hours following major thoracic or abdominal surgery. Further trials are required to ascertain this possible beneficial effect of paracetamol for pain management in neonates.

Acknowledgements

We are thankful to Dr Badiee (Badiee 2009), Dr de Wildt (Ceelie 2013), Dr Manjunatha and Ms Fisher (Manjunatha 2009), and Dr van Lingen (van Lingen 2001), who provided additional information about their studies.

Appendices

Appendix 1. Standard search methodology

PubMed: ((infant, newborn[MeSH] OR newborn OR neonate OR neonatal OR premature OR low birth weight OR VLBW OR LBW or infan* or neonat*) AND (randomised controlled trial [pt] OR controlled clinical trial [pt] OR Clinical Trial[ptyp] OR randomised [tiab] OR placebo [tiab] OR clinical trials as topic [mesh: noexp] OR randomly [tiab] OR trial [ti]) NOT (animals [mh] NOT humans [mh]))

Embase: (infant, newborn or newborn or neonate or neonatal or premature or very low birth weight or low birth weight or VLBW or LBW or Newborn or infan* or neonat*) AND (human not animal) AND (randomized controlled trial or controlled clinical trial or randomized or placebo or clinical trials as topic or randomly or trial or clinical trial)

CINAHL: (infant, newborn OR newborn OR neonate OR neonatal OR premature OR low birth weight OR VLBW OR LBW or Newborn or infan* or neonat*) AND (randomized controlled trial OR controlled clinical trial OR randomized OR placebo OR clinical trials as topic OR randomly OR trial OR PT clinical trial)

Cochrane Library: (infant or newborn or neonate or neonatal or premature or very low birth weight or low birth weight or VLBW or LBW)

Data and analyses

Comparison 1.

Heel lance ‐ paracetamol (oral) vs sterile water (oral)

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 PIPP score (difference between baseline and heel lance period)	1	72	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.40 [‐0.45, 3.25]
2 PIPP score (maximum score within 3 minutes following lancing)	1	38	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.48 [‐0.11, 3.07]
3 NIPS score (maximum score within 3 minutes following lancing)	1	38	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.85 [‐0.14, 1.84]
4 Duration of crying (seconds) during the first 3 minutes	1	72	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	8.10 [‐19.09, 35.29]
5 Difference in SpO₂ between baseline and heel lance period (%)	1	72	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.60 [‐0.58, 5.78]
6 Difference in heart rate (beats/min) between baseline and heel lance period	1	72	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.90 [‐4.74, 8.54]

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Comparison 2.

Heel lance ‐ paracetamol (oral) vs glucose (oral)

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 PIPP (maximum score within 3 minutes following lancing)	1	38	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.21 [0.72, 3.70]
2 NIPS (maximum score within 3 minutes following lancing)	1	38	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.32 [0.40, 2.24]

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Comparison 3.

Heel lance ‐ paracetamol (oral) vs EMLA (cream)

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 PIPP (maximum score within 3 minutes following lancing)	1	38	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.21 [‐0.38, 2.80]
2 NIPS score (maximum score within 3 minutes following lancing)	1	38	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.58 [‐0.34, 1.50]

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Analysis 3.2 — Comparison 3 Heel lance ‐ paracetamol (oral) vs EMLA (cream), Outcome 2 NIPS score (maximum score within 3 minutes following lancing).

Comparison 4.

Heel lance ‐ paracetamol (oral paracetamol cherry elixir) vs placebo (cherry elixir)

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Facial action score (%) during heel lance (range 0 to 300%)	1	65	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	12.40 [‐15.28, 40.08]
2 Time spent crying (%) (range 0 to 100%)	1	65	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.60 [‐7.15, 12.35]

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Comparison 5.

Assisted vaginal birth (vacuum extraction or forceps) ‐ paracetamol suppositories vs placebo suppositories

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Modified facies scores (possible score 0 to 4) 0, 1 or 2 at 1, 7, 13 and 19 hours	1	119	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.95 [0.75, 1.20]
2 Modified facies scores (possible score 0 to 4) 3 or 4 at 1, 7, 13 and 19 hours	1	119	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.14 [0.66, 1.96]
3 EDIN score at 2 hours of age	1	123	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.0 [0.60, 1.40]
4 EDIN score at 4 hours of age	1	123	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [‐0.22, 0.22]
5 Difference in acute BPSN pain scores before and after heel lance at 2 to 3 days of life (by nurses)	1	123	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.0 [1.56, 2.44]
6 Difference in acute BPSN pain scores before and after heel lance at 2 to 3 days of life (by video)	1	123	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.0 [1.47, 2.53]
7 Infants who cried following heel lance	1	123	Risk Difference (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.15 [‐0.02, 0.33]
8 Time spent crying (seconds) after heel lance	1	123	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	19.0 [14.12, 23.88]

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Comparison 6.

Eye examination ‐ paracetamol (oral) vs placebo (sterile water) for eye examination

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 PIPP score in first 45 seconds of eye exam	1	80	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.80 [‐1.69, 0.09]
2 PIPP score in last 45 seconds of eye exam	1	80	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.20 [‐0.90, 1.30]
3 PIPP score 5 minutes after eye exam	1	11	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.57 [‐3.79, 0.66]
4 PIPP score during eye examination	1	114	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐2.70 [‐3.55, ‐1.85]
5 Crying time (s) during eye examination	1	114	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	4.80 [‐1.69, 11.29]
6 Infants with tachycardia (>180 bpm)	1	114	Risk Difference (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.11 [‐0.04, 0.27]
7 Infants with bradycardia and desaturation	1	114	Risk Difference (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.01 [‐0.08, 0.11]

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Comparison 7.

Eye examination ‐ paracetamol (oral) vs 24% sucrose (oral)

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 PIPP score in first 45 seconds of eye exam	1	81	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	3.90 [2.92, 4.88]
2 PIPP score in last 45 seconds of eye exam	1	81	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.10 [‐0.08, 2.28]

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Comparison 8.

Eye examination ‐ paracetamol vs morphine

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 PIPP score 5 minutes after eye exam	1	11	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.10 [‐0.70, 2.90]

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Comparison 9.

Postoperative care ‐ paracetamol vs morphine

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Total amount of morphine (µg/kg) administered over 48 hours	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐157.0 [‐287.48, ‐26.52]
2 Any adverse event	1	41	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.95 [0.50, 1.78]
3 Re‐intubation	1	41	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	3.45 [0.15, 80.03]
4 Apnoea	1	41	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.77 [0.26, 2.33]
5 Apnoea with naloxone	1	41	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.23 [0.01, 4.51]
6 Bradycardia	1	41	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.16 [0.33, 4.01]
7 Urinary retention	1	41	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	3.45 [0.15, 80.03]

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What's new

Last assessed as up‐to‐date: 24 May 2016.

Date	Event	Description
6 February 2017	Amended	Added external source of support.

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History

Protocol first published: Issue 7, 2014 Review first published: Issue 6, 2015

Date	Event	Description
16 August 2016	New citation required but conclusions have not changed	Conclusions unchanged.
24 May 2016	New search has been performed	One additional study that assessed the effectiveness of paracetamol versus water for pain/stress associated with eye‐examination for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) was identified. The study showed lower PIPP scores in the paracetamol group than the placebo (water group). The results for paracetamol for ROP exam are contradictory. Summary of findings tables have been added.

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Differences between protocol and review

In a deviation from the protocol, we included one study that reported the total amount of morphine administered to infants randomly assigned to receive continuous morphine or intermittent intravenous paracetamol up to 48 hours post major thoracic or abdominal surgery (Ceelie 2013). The study included infants who were 30 days of age or less at enrolment. In our opinion, this study provides important information relevant to the topic of the protocol. The study by Bonetto 2008 included infants less than 30 days of age. Our upper age limit was less than 28 days, but we decided to include these studies.

Characteristics of studies

Characteristics of included studies [ordered by study ID]

Badiee 2009

Methods	Prospective randomised double‐blind placebo‐controlled study
Participants	72 preterm neonates (≤ 34 weeks PMA, age ≥ 24 hours, no feeding for at least 30 minutes, Apgar scores > 3 at 5 minutes). 36 infants in each group. Infants were treated at the NICU of Alzahra University Hospital, Isfahan, Iran, during the period of April 2007 to August 2007
Interventions	The treatment group (n = 36) received oral paracetamol 40 mg/kg, and the placebo group (n = 36) received an equal volume of sterile water 90 minutes before heel lance
Outcomes	PIPP and crying time during the first 3 minutes of the procedure. Differences in SpO₂ and heart rate between baseline and the heel lancing period
Notes	Dr Badiee confirmed in an email on 5 January 2015 that the paracetamol solution looked the same as sterile water
*Risk of bias*
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Computer‐generated block randomisation
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	The research pharmacist randomly assigned newborns to treatment and placebo groups by computer‐generated block randomisation
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Low risk	The paracetamol oral solution looked similar to sterile water
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Neither the observers nor the nurse who carried out the heel lancing were aware of which treatment had been given to the neonate
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Outcomes were reported for all randomly assigned infants
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	The protocol for the study was not available to us, so we cannot judge whether there were any deviations from the protocol
Other bias	Low risk	Study appears free of other bias

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Bonetto 2008

Methods	Randomised controlled trial
Participants	Newborns of 36 weeks' PMA or more, more than 24 hours old and less than 30 days old, who needed blood tests for neonatal screening. Infants were born at Sanatorium Allende, Córdoba, Argentina, during November and December 2007
Interventions	Oral glucose or oral paracetamol (n = 19) or oral placebo (n = 19) or EMLA to the heel (n = 19), or placebo to the heel (n = 19)
Outcomes	Maximum NIPS and PIPP scores from the start of the heel lance to 3 minutes after the heel lance procedure
Notes	We used Google translation to translate the article from Spanish to English
*Risk of bias*
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Computer generated
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	No information was provided
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Low risk	A doctor was in charge of maintaining masking of the sample and knowing who administered treatment or placebo. Acetaminophen was administered at 20 mg/kg (2 drops/kg) orally 60 minutes before the extraction. Matching placebo consisted of 2 drops/kg of distilled water given with a masked dropper. Corresponding placebo for EMLA was a moisturiser of similar appearance to EMLA
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Pain assessment was performed independently by 2 observers (neonatal nurses) who used PIPP as the primary measure and NIPS as a secondary measure. Pain assessment began with the start of the puncture and ended after 3 minutes. Maximum scores achieved during these 3 minutes after the puncture were the outcome measures
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Outcomes were reported on all randomly assigned participants: 19 paracetamol + 19 placebo
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	The protocol was not available to us, so we cannot judge whether selective reporting occurred
Other bias	Low risk	Study appears free of other bias

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Ceelie 2013

Methods	Randomised controlled trial
Participants	71 neonates or infants; PMA of 36 1/7 weeks or older to 1 year of age with body weight > 1500 grams undergoing major thoracic (non‐cardiac) or abdominal surgery. We obtained unpublished data on 41 infants who were ≤ 30 days of age and fulfilled our inclusion criteria. These infants are included in our review. Infants were admitted to a level III paediatric intensive care unit in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, between March 2008 and July 2010
Interventions	All participants received a loading dose of morphine 30 minutes before the end of surgery, followed by continuous morphine or intermittent intravenous paracetamol up to 48 hours post surgery. Infants in both study groups received morphine (boluses and/or continuous infusion) as rescue medication on the guidance of the validated pain assessment instruments. Participants were randomly assigned to receive morphine or paracetamol postoperatively. When participants were randomly assigned to receive paracetamol (30 mg/kg per day in 4 doses), a placebo infusion of normal saline was administered continuously at the same rate as an equivalent morphine infusion. When randomly assigned to receive morphine (participants ≤ 10 days of age, 2.5 µg/kg^1.5 per hour; participants 11 days to 1 year of age, 5 µg/kg^1.5 per hour), normal saline was administered 4 times daily as placebo in a volume similar to the intravenous paracetamol dose
Outcomes	Primary outcome was cumulative morphine dose (study and rescue dose). Secondary outcomes were pain scores and morphine‐related adverse effects
Notes	We wrote to Dr Saskia N de Wildt, and she provided us with unpublished information on 41 infants who were ≤ 30 days of age and fulfilled our inclusion criteria
*Risk of bias*
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	A hospital pharmacist carried out computer randomisation in advance
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	Only the pharmacist had access to group allocation during the study period, for preparation of study medication
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Only the pharmacist had access to group allocation during the study period, for preparation of study medication. No other information was provided
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	All staff were blinded
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Outcomes were reported for all randomly assigned infants
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	This study was entered into a trials registry ‐ trialregister.nl Identifier: NTR1438 in The Netherlands. No deviations from the protocol are apparent
Other bias	Low risk	Study appears free of other bias

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Kabataş 2016

Methods	Randomised controlled trial. Study location: tertiary level neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Study period: January 2013 to June 2014 inclusive
Participants	Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (< 1500 g) who were candidates for ROP screening (n = 114)
Interventions	Topical anaesthetic (Proparacaine; Alcaine® drop 0.5 %) was applied 30 seconds before the eye examination in all the infants Oral paracetamol 15 mg/kg (n = 58) or oral placebo (sterile water) (n = 56)
Outcomes	PIPP score during examination (median IQR) Crying time (seconds) (mean and SD)
Notes	PIPP score during examination were presented as medians and IQRs. We transformed the data to means and SDs using the formulas presented by Wan 2014
*Risk of bias*
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Computer‐based randomisation process
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	Sealed opaque envelopes
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Either paracetamol or sterile water was provided by the pharmacy in opaque syringes. The nurse administered the solutions 60 minutes before the onset of the examination. The parents, the ophthalmologist and investigators were blinded to the randomisation
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	The parents, the ophthalmologist and investigators were blinded to the randomisation
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	All randomised infants were accounted for
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	The protocol for the study was not available to us so we cannot judge if there were any deviations between the protocol and the report
Other bias	Low risk	Appears free of other bias

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Manjunatha 2009

Methods	Double‐blind randomised controlled trial. Study was conducted from 2003 to 2005 at Wishaw General Hospital, Lanarkshire, UK
Participants	Infants who satisfied the criteria for ROP screening (≤ 31 weeks PMA, or ≤ 1.5 kg birth weight) were recruited into the study. Infants who were on morphine or paracetamol for other reasons, breast‐fed infants whose mothers were on methadone or other analgesics and infants with gastrointestinal problems such as ileostomy/colostomy were excluded
Interventions	Neonates (n = 18) were randomly assigned to receive a single oral dose of morphine sulphate 200 μg/kg (n = 6) or paracetamol 20 mg/kg (n = 6) or placebo (n = 6)
Outcomes	PIPP – The infant’s face, saturation monitor and time frame cards were recorded on videotape over a 1 to 2 minute period, at 5 minutes before, then at 5 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours after the procedure. 2 separate individuals subsequently scored the information independently. Main outcome was PIPP scores 5 minutes after ROP screening
Notes	Dr Manjunatha and Ms Hazel Fisher (Senior Pharmacist) volunteered, "The 3 solutions looked identical (clear, colourless solutions). The diluent for all 3 solutions was hydroxybenzoate, with the placebo being made up with preserved water"
*Risk of bias*
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	The random sequence was generated by the pharmacist by pulling folded tickets out of a bag with morphine, paracetamol or placebo on the tickets. Equal numbers of tickets were provided in the bag for each arm and all tickets were allocated
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	Blinded random assignment was done by picking up consecutive envelopes
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Low risk	The pharmacy department at Wishaw General Hospital supplied trial substances. Infants received the trial substance (placebo or medication) 1 hour before the procedure was performed. The dose of each trial substance was dispensed as 10 mL and was administered as 2 mL/kg/dose, 1 hour before the procedure. The 3 solutions looked identical (clear, colourless solutions). The diluent for all 3 solutions was hydroxybenzoate, and the placebo was made up with preserved water
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	The infant’s face, saturation monitor and time frame cards were recorded on videotape over a 1 to 2 minute period, at 5 minutes before, then at 5 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours after the procedure. 2 separate individuals subsequently scored the information independently
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	18 infants were enrolled. At 5 minutes post eye examination, the PIPP score was not reported for 1 infant in the paracetamol group
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	The protocol for the study was available to us. No selective outcome reporting is apparent. However only 18 infants from a preset sample of 63 were enrolled
Other bias	Low risk	Study appears free of other bias

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Seifi 2013

Methods	Randomised controlled trial
Participants	Preterm infants < 32 weeks PMA. Tertiary level neonatal intensive care unit (Al Zahra Hospital, Tabriz, Iran) from October 2011 to October 2012
Interventions	Group 1 – oral acetaminophen 15 mg/kg 30 minutes before eye examination and 0.2 mL sterile water during initiation of eye examination (n = 41) Group 2 – 0.2 mL sucrose (25%) during initiation of eye examination (n = 40) Group 3 – 0.2 mL sterile water as placebo (39) during initiation of eye examination
Outcomes	2 neonatologists experienced in the use of PIPP scoring and blind to the intervention groups determined pain score by 30‐second observation of neonates and responses on videotape at the start of the eye examination and during the last 45 seconds of the eye examination
Notes
*Risk of bias*
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Computer‐based randomisation process
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	Sealed opaque envelopes
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	It is unclear who administered acetaminophen 30 minutes before the examination
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	2 neonatologists experienced in the use of PIPP scoring and blind to the intervention groups determined pain score after 30 seconds of observation of neonates and responses on videotape at the start of the eye examination and during the last 45 seconds of the eye examination
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	1 neonate in group B and 1 infant in group C were excluded because of impaired videotape recording and covering of neonate's face with examiner's hand, making pain assessment impossible Outcomes were reported for all other infants
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	The protocol for this study was not available to us, so we cannot judge whether selective reporting occurred
Other bias	Low risk	Study appears free of other bias

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Shah 1998

Methods	Randomised, double‐blind, controlled trial. Single‐centre study conducted at Women's College Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Participants	75 term neonates undergoing heel lance for screening for newborn disease
Interventions	Oral paracetamol cherry elixir 20 mg/kg, 60 to 90 minutes before heel lance (n = 38), or placebo (cherry elixir) (n = 37)
Outcomes	Per cent facial action – brow bulge, eye squeeze and nasolabial fold (range 0% to 300%); per cent of time spent crying (range 0% to 100%)
Notes
*Risk of bias*
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Computer‐generated random numbers list
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	Neonates were randomly assigned by the pharmacy department to receive before‐heel lance oral paracetamol cherry elixir (32 mg/mL) at a dose of 20 mg/kg or an equal volume of placebo (cherry elixir) of identical appearance
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Low risk	See allocation concealment
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	See allocation concealment
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	High risk	10 infants were excluded from the efficacy analysis. In 9 cases, infants had multiple heel lances (n = 5 in group 1; n = 4 in group 2); in 1 case (group 1), the video recording was of poor quality. Data for 13% of enrolled infants were missing
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	The protocol for the study was not available to us, so we cannot judge whether selective reporting occurred
Other bias	Low risk	Study appears free of other bias

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Tinner 2013

Methods	Randomised double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial
Participants	Singleton newborns, born by assisted vaginal delivery (forceps or vacuum), with PMA > 35 weeks and BW > 2000 grams. Infants were admitted to one of 3 Swiss university hospitals
Interventions	Paracetamol suppositories (60/80/100 mg in infants < 3000 grams/3000 to 4000 grams/> 4000 grams birth weight) at 2 hours and 8 hours of life, or placebo suppositories at 2 hours and 8 hours of life
Outcomes	Prolonged pain and discomfort during the first 24 hours of life were assessed by the Échelle de Douleur et d’Inconfort du Nouveau‐né (neonatal pain and discomfort) (EDIN) scale Assessments were carried out by nurses or midwives in charge at baseline (2 hours), and at 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours of life Acute pain response to a short painful stimulus 2 to 3 days after birth was assessed by the 7 behavioural items of the Bernese Pain Scale for Newborns (BPSN), validated to measure acute pain in newborn infants on a scale between 0 (no pain) and 21 (maximum pain). Infants received 0.2 mL sucrose solution 1 minute before heel lance performed to obtain blood for metabolic screening at 2 to 3 days of life. BPSN was scored by nurse immediately before and after the heel lance. In addition, infants were videotaped and tapes were scored off‐site by a single reviewer. Whether infants cried after heel lance and, if so, the time infants spent crying after heel lance, were recorded
Notes
*Risk of bias*
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	The Pharmacy Institute held the randomisation key with a block random allocation
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	At 2 hours and 8 hours of life, infants received 2 coded suppositories that contained paracetamol or placebo. The sequence remained concealed until the study was completed
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Double‐blind placebo‐controlled study
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Double‐blind placebo‐controlled study
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	All infants recruited were randomly assigned to receive placebo (n = 69) or paracetamol (n = 71), and all infants randomly assigned received the allocated intervention and continued treatment as planned (i.e. they received 2 suppositories at 2 hours and 8 hours of life). 17 subsequent drop‐outs (8 (3/5/0) infants transferred to the neonatal unit and 9 (0/2/7) infants who left the maternity hospital before metabolic screening). Thus, a total of 123 newborn infants completed the study; 62 had received paracetamol and 61 placebo
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	The protocol is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT 00488540; no deviations from the protocol are apparent
Other bias	Low risk	Study appears free of other bias

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van Lingen 2001

Methods	Randomised controlled study undertaken during a 15‐month period at 2 hospitals in The Netherlands
Participants	Infants were eligible for the study if they fulfilled the following entry criteria: birth weight > 2500 grams, gestational age > 36 weeks, Apgar score at 5 minutes ≥ 7 and absence of congenital anomalies of the newborn. All infants were delivered by vacuum extraction. Infants admitted to the NICU for artificial ventilation because of respiratory insufficiency were excluded from the study. Furthermore, infants were excluded during the evaluation phase of the study if data were incomplete (e.g. in cases of early hospital discharge)
Interventions	Paracetamol suppositories 20 mg/kg (n = 61) or placebo suppositories (n = 61)
Outcomes	Modified 5 point facies scale at 1, 7, 13 and 19 hours after the first suppository had been given. Score of clinical condition
Notes	Dr van Lingen provided us with his PhD thesis — 'Pain Assessment and Analgesia in the Newborn: An Integrated Approach' — which includes a chapter on this trial
*Risk of bias*
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Computer‐generated randomisation procedure was carried out by one of the hospital pharmacists, who had no knowledge of the clinical status of the neonates
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	In the delivery room, separate numbered boxes were available for birth‐weight categories; each contained 4 suppositories with paracetamol suspended in Witepsol H‐15 as a fatty suppository base or a placebo with only a Witepsol H‐15 base
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Low risk	See allocation concealment
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Scoring was performed by nurses from the obstetric and paediatric wards, who were blinded to the group to which the infant was assigned
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	18 infants were excluded as they failed to receive 3 or more doses of the study drug or placebo. 16 infants were discharged before all suppositories were given, and in 2 other infants, the study drug was stopped on parental request. 61 infants remained in each group; 59 in the paracetamol group and 60 in the placebo group underwent pain assessments
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	The protocol for the study was not available to us; therefore we cannot judge whether selective reporting occurred
Other bias	Low risk	Study appears free of other bias

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BW = birth weight (grams).

NIPS = Neonatal Infant Pain Score.

PIPPS = Premature Infant Pain Profile.

PMA = postmenstrual age (weeks).

Characteristics of excluded studies [ordered by study ID]

Study	Reason for exclusion
Hong 2010	Infants/children enrolled in this study were 6 to 24 months old
Härmä 2016	Before after study. Not a randomised controlled trial.

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Characteristics of studies awaiting assessment [ordered by study ID]

Foronda 2014

Methods	A randomised, controlled and single‐blind study
Participants	Neonates (n = 129) undergoing heel lance
Interventions	Paracetamol (n = 42), dextrose (n = 47) and placebo (n = 40)
Outcomes	NIPS and PIPP
Notes	Study presented in abstract form. No numbers for NIPS and PIPP scores were presented. Pain scores were lowest in the dextrose group.

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Garbi 2016

Methods	Ongoing randomised trial
Participants	Infants 24 to 36 weeks' corrected PMA requiring continuous opioid infusion for pain control
Interventions	96‐hour regimen of adjunct IV acetaminophen compared with controls receiving solely opioid infusion
Outcomes	Cumulative opioid exposure, measures of hepatic function, pain and sedation scores using the Neonatal Pain, Agitation Sedation Scale (NPASS), duration of mechanical ventilation, reintubation, time to full enteral feedings and number of apneic/bradycardic episodes
Notes	When the abstract was published, 24 (of 30) patients had been enrolled (11 Study, 13 Control)

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van der Marel 2007

Methods	Randomised controlled study
Participants	Infants 0 to 10 months old undergoing major surgery (thoracic ‒ non‐cardiac and abdominal surgery)
Interventions	Paracetamol or placebo given rectally, in addition to a morphine loading dose and continuous infusion
Outcomes	COMFORT score
Notes	We have written to study authors to request data for infants < 1 month of age. As of 23 May 2016 we have not received an answer

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Characteristics of ongoing studies [ordered by study ID]

NCT01938261

Trial name or title	Preterm infants' paracetamol study (PreParaS)
Methods	Randomised placebo‐controlled study
Participants	Preterm infants born at < 32 weeks PMA
Interventions	Placebo comparator: paracetamol effect on ductus. First drug dose is given before 24 hours of age. Masked study drug is paracetamol infusion solution 10 mg/mL (PERFALGAN^®) or placebo, 0.45% saline solution. Loading dose is 20 mg/kg, and maintenance dose is 7.5 mg/kg every 6 hours for 4 days. Placebo comparator: paracetamol effect on pain. First drug dose is given before 24 hours of age. Masked study drug is paracetamol infusion solution 10 mg/mL (PERFALGAN^®) or placebo, 0.45% saline solution. Loading dose is 20 mg/kg, and maintenance dose is 7.5 mg/kg every 6 hours for 4 days.
Outcomes	For PDA: ductus diameter mm/kg at postnatal age of 5 days For pain: cumulative dosage of morphine at postnatal age of 5 days
Starting date	August 2013
Contact information	Outi Aikio, MD, PhD + 358 8 3155810 outi.aikio@ppshp.fi
Notes

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PMA = postmenstrual age.

Contributions of authors

Both review authors contributed equally to this protocol and review.

Sources of support

Internal sources

Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

External sources

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, USA.

Editorial support of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group has been funded with Federal funds from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, USA, under Contract No. HHSN275201100016C
National Institute for Health Research, UK.

Editorial support for Cochrane Neonatal has been funded with funds from a UK National Institute of Health Research Grant (NIHR) Cochrane Programme Grant (13/89/12). The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR, or the UK Department of Health.

Declarations of interest

Dr Arne Ohlsson is a co‐author of one of the included trials (Shah 1998).

Dr Prakeshkumar Shah reports no conflicts of interest.

Edited (no change to conclusions)

References

References to studies included in this review

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PERMALINK

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) for prevention or treatment of pain in newborns

Arne Ohlsson

Prakeshkumar S Shah

Abstract

Background

Objectives

Search methods

Selection criteria

Data collection and analysis

Main results

Authors' conclusions

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) for prevention or treatment of pain in newborns

Summary of findings

Summary of findings for the main comparison.

Background

Description of the condition

Description of the intervention

How the intervention might work

Why it is important to do this review

Objectives

Primary objective

Secondary objective

Methods

Criteria for considering studies for this review

Types of studies

Types of participants

Types of interventions

Types of outcome measures

Primary outcomes

Secondary outcomes

Short‐term outcomes

Long‐term outcomes

Search methods for identification of studies

Electronic searches

Searching other resources

Data collection and analysis

Selection of studies

Data extraction and management

Assessment of risk of bias in included studies

Selection bias (random sequence generation and allocation concealment)

Sequence generation

Allocation concealment

Blinding of participants, personnel and outcome assessors (performance and detection bias)

Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)

Selective outcome reporting (reporting bias)

Other bias

Overall risk of bias

Measures of treatment effect

Dichotomous data

Continuous data

Unit of analysis issues

Dealing with missing data

Assessment of heterogeneity

Assessment of reporting biases

Data synthesis

Quality of evidence

Subgroup analysis and investigation of heterogeneity

Sensitivity analysis

Results

Description of studies

Results of the search

Figure 1.

Included studies

Excluded studies

Risk of bias in included studies

Figure 2.

Figure 3.

Allocation

Blinding

Incomplete outcome data

Selective reporting

Other potential sources of bias

Effects of interventions

Paracetamol for the treatment of pain

Heel lance ‒ paracetamol (oral) vs sterile water (oral) (Comparison 1)

Primary outcomes

Pain scores

Analysis 1.1.

Analysis 1.2.