Leading article
 | Can we use methadone for analgesia in neonates? |
| Commentary |
Can we use methadone for analgesia in neonates?
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
 |
Introduction |
|---|
The use of methadone analgesia is undergoing a revival in
the field of pain management with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals realising its potential advantages over other commonly used opioid analgesics.1-3 The efficacy of methadone
analgesia is well documented in adults, but limited information is
available about the use of methadone in younger patients, particularly
neonates. Painful experiences in neonates range from all newborns
receiving routine vitamin K injections at birth to the critically ill
preterm neonates who may experience up to 488 painful procedures during their stay in neonatal intensive care units.4 5 The idea that neonates do not experience pain has long been refuted, and doctors
are now more likely to administer routine pain relief.6 The provision of adequate analgesia and sedation has been proved to
maintain physiological stability and improve clinical outcomes in these
patients.7 Neonates undergoing surgery often need to be
intubated and ventilated for prolonged periods
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This article has been cited by other articles:
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Anand, K J S, Hall, R W
(2006). Pharmacological therapy for analgesia and sedation in the newborn.. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.
91: F448-F453
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