Evaluation of the Relationship between Pain Exposure and Somatosensory Evoked Potentials in Preterm Infants: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Background and aim: First, to compare somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) in preterm newborns without major brain injury studied at term equivalent age (TEA) with a term historical control group. Second, to investigate the impact of pain exposure during the first 28 days after birth on SEPs. Third, to evaluate the association between SEPs and Bayley-III at 2 years corrected age (CA). Methods: Infants born at p p p < 0.005). Conclusion: Pain exposure and prematurity were risk factors for altered SEP parameters at TEA. SEPs predicted cognitive outcome.

Keywords

• somatosensory evoked potentials
• pain
• painful procedures
• preterm infants