Global Pediatrics (Jun 2023)
Skin conductance measurement as a selective and continuous pain assessment method during eye examinations for retinopathy of prematurity
Abstract
Background: Assessing and managing pain in newborns is important for normal development and reduction of morbidity. Aim: To assess whether skin conductance measurements (SCM) can be used as an objective method for measuring procedural pain during screening for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants and to identify painful components of the examination. Methods: 65 separate SCM were performed in 33 infants born at <32 weeks gestational age (wGA) eligible for ROP screening (median 26+4 wGA, range 23+3 to 31+3; median weeks postmenstrual age 37+2, range 31+0 to 49+6). SCM was measured before, during and after eye examination (fundoscopy and/or wide-field digital retinal imaging [WFDRI]), and compared to changes in heart rate (HR), pulse oximetry saturation (SpO2) and behavioral state measured with the Neonatal Pain, Agitation and Sedation Scale (N-PASS). Results: A major increase of SCM could be seen during both fundoscopy and WFDRI (p<0.01, respectively). No correlation was found between SCM and wGA. N-PASS changed significantly during ROP examination (p<0.01). While N-PASS could only distinguish painful response from baseline during fundoscopy and WFDRI, SCM detected responses during each stage of the investigations i.e. the application of mydriatics, fundoscopy, anesthetic drops, speculum and WFDRI. HR increased only during digital retinal imaging (p = 0.049), while SpO2 decreased only during fundoscopy (p = 0.042). Conclusion: SCM may be used as a continuous and objective method to evaluate pain and its intensity during screening for ROP, enabling the separation of the different painful components of the investigation. Selecting and grading the different painful stages improves the possibility to assess and continue to improve pain management more specifically in these patients.
