GOLD Learning Speakers

Inadequate pain management in neonatal life impairs neurodevelopment outcome because it alters pain thresholds, pain-or stress-related behaviour, and physiological responses later in life. However, there are recently also emerging animal experimental and human epidemiological data on the impact of analgo-sedatives on neuro-apoptosis and impaired neurodevelopmental outcome. As a consequence, the management of neonatal pain is in search of a new balance, and these conflicting observations are the main drivers to tailor our pain management in neonates. Adequate pain management is based on prevention, assessment, and treatment with subsequent reassessment. Issues related to prevention and assessment tools are covered. Non-pharmacological (e.g., complementary interventions like facilitated tuking, nonnutritive sucking) and pharmacological (e.g., acetaminophen, opiods, ketamine, propofol) treatment modalities were reviewed and reflect the increased knowledge on neonatal pain management. Each topic ends with some take-home messages that in part also reflects the speakers option on the current status of this topic