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Kangaroo Mother Care in Reducing Pain in Preterm Neonates on Heel Prick

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Abstract

Objectives

To determine the effect of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) of small duration of 15 min in decreasing pain in preterm neonates between 32–36 wk 6 d on heel prick by a 26 gauge needle.

Methods

Randomized controlled double masked crossover trial involving 50 neonates, between 32 wk and 36 wk 6 d gestation and weighing less than 2500 g, within 10 d of birth, vitally stable, breathing without assistance or on Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), without any clinically evident neurological signs, not having received analgesics/sedatives within last 24 h and not fed within last 30 min and requiring heel pricking were eligible. Outcome measured was the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP). Analysis was done using independent sample t test, with Bonferroni correction applied for comparing individual components of PIPP score.

Results

The heart rate, behaviour and facial scores were statistically significant and lower in KMC group. But there was no statistically significant difference in oxygen saturation (SpO2). The difference(4.85) in PIPP score was clinically and statistically significant (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

The findings suggest that short duration KMC (15 min) has stress reducing benefits. Preterm neonates above 32 wk gestational age can benefit from KMC to decrease pain from heel prick procedure.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the many contributors to this study, most notably the preterms and their mothers, the Central Research Services of Charutar Arogya Mandal who assisted in the analysis of the study and the nurses from NICU who helped in the study.

Conflict of Interest

None.

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None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neonatal Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad, Gujarat, 388325, India

    Somashekhar M. Nimbalkar, Neha S. Chaudhary & Keshardan V. Gadhavi

  2. Central Research Services, Charutar Arogya Mandal, Karamsad, India

    Ajay Phatak

Authors
  1. Somashekhar M. Nimbalkar
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  2. Neha S. Chaudhary
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  3. Keshardan V. Gadhavi
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  4. Ajay Phatak
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Correspondence to Somashekhar M. Nimbalkar.

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Nimbalkar, S.M., Chaudhary, N.S., Gadhavi, K.V. et al. Kangaroo Mother Care in Reducing Pain in Preterm Neonates on Heel Prick. Indian J Pediatr 80, 6–10 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-012-0760-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-012-0760-6

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