Does Noninvasive Electrical Stimulation of Acupuncture Points (NESAP) Reduce Heelstick Pain in Infants?

University of Arkansas162 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of the study is to determine whether noninvasive electrical stimulation at acupuncture points (NESAP) and/or 24% sucrose is effective in reducing pain in infants during invasive procedures. The investigators hypothesize that: * Gentle noninvasive electrical stimulation at selected acupuncture points and/or oral use of 24% sucrose with pacifier will reduce the newborn infant's responses to heelstick pain, as measured by the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP), heart rate variability, duration of crying, and salivary cortisol levels. * The effects of combined therapies will be additive. * The analgesic effects of NESAP and/or sucrose will continue for the duration of the heelstick, reflected by the first two minutes of heelstick and the first two minutes of recovery.

A collaborative prospective, double-blind, randomized trial will be performed at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Hospital (Little Rock, AR), and Lucille Packard Children's Hospital (Palo Alto, CA). After obtaining IRB approval at both sites and parental consent, newborn infants less than 3 days of age who require heelsticks for clinical blood sampling will be randomized in a 2 × 2 factorial trial design to four groups: standard pain management with pacifier and water, Non-invasive Electrical Stimulation of Acupuncture Points (NESAP) with pacifier and water, 24% oral sucrose solution with pacifier, or NESAP plus oral sucrose solution and pacifier prior to their heelstick. We will study the pain response to the heelstick routinely used to obtain blood for term neonatal infants by enrolling up to 192 infants, 96 from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and 96 from Lucille Packard Children's Hospital. This number will allow for screen failures and withdrawals. A minimum of 164 infants collectively from both sites is required to complete the study. Infants will be divided into 4 experimental groups: 1. Group A: Sham (fake electrical stimulation) plus sugar water with pacifier before heelstick. 2. Group B: Electrical stimulation plus water with pacifier before heelstick. 3. Group C: Electrical stimulation plus sugar water with pacifier before heelstick. 4. Group D: Sham (fake electrical stimulation) plus water with pacifier before heelstick. Electrical stimulation will be applied at appropriate acupuncture points using a very low current for 10 minutes, routine for procedural pain. The response to pain will be assessed using a pain scale, heart rate, heart rate variability and oxygen saturation changes, duration of crying, and changes in salivary cortisol levels.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Interventions

NESAPDEVICE

Electrical stimulation will be administered via the Empi Select, a standard TENS unit. To produce analgesia, small electrodes will be placed in treatment groups on the baby's legs at specific acupuncture points: ZuSanLi (ST36), SanYinJiao (SP6), Shen Mai (Bl60), and Shui Quan (KI3)46. StimCare electrodes with a gel base will be applied to the skin ; the skin will not be punctured by these procedures. A low continuous current will be provided with minimal voltage of 3.5 mA. The frequency will be delivered using a stimulation of 10 Hz for 10±1 minutes prior to the heelstick, with continued stimulation during and for 2 minutes after the heel stick. The display will be hidden from view to prevent the rater from being able to observe whether the unit is on.

24% oral SucroseBEHAVIORAL

One ml 24% sucrose will be given approximately two minutes before the heel stick. Sucrose will be given via oral syringe along with a pacifier.

Sham NESAPDEVICE

Four electrodes will be placed on the infant's lower leg, but the TENS unit will not be turned on. The TENS unit will be covered and investigators will not know whether the TENS unit is turned on or not (sham NESAP).

Oral waterBEHAVIORAL

For infants in the control group, 1 ml of water will be given via oral syringe along with a pacifier 2 minutes before the heel stick. Investigators will be blinded on whether the infants are receiving water or oral sucrose.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 1 DayMax age: 3 DaysHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Newborn infants born at 37-42 weeks gestational age * Less than 3 days of age * Requiring a heelstick for clinically indicated blood sampling * Written, informed consent from their parents. Exclusion Criteria: * Newborns who have received any analgesic treatment * Exposed to chronic opiates in utero (excluding opiates given only at the time of delivery) or with a positive drug screen based on review of medical records. * Current maternal cigarette smoking. * Infants exposed to birth asphyxia (5-minute Apgar scores of \<5 or cord pH \<7.0). * Infants on mechanical ventilation. * Newborns with suspected or confirmed neuromuscular diseases, congenital anomalies, or sepsis. * Infants with birth trauma to the lower extremities (bruising or other) or those exposed multiple heelsticks in the previous 24 hours (e.g. requiring frequent glucose or bilirubin measurements). * Infants born from mothers with drug addiction, diabetes, pre-eclampsia, or systemic inflammatory conditions. * Abnormal neurological exam * Congenital heart defects * Enrollment or participation in other studies * Dermatologic condition in the area of electrode placement or elsewhere * Local or systemic infection documented or suspected * Reasonable known allergy to the gel/adhesive * Bleeding abnormality * Connection to other medical equipment or devices that might interfere with the workings or functioning of the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit * Any condition the investigator determines will put the subject at risk if participating in the study.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Changes From Baseline Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) Score to Average PIPP Score During Heel Stick and Squeeze.

The PIPP score includes assessment of contextual, physiological, and behavioral parameters and has been extensively validated for pain assessment in preterm and term infants. PIPP scores were given at baseline before initiation of the TENS unit,and every 30 seconds for the first two minutes of the heel stick and heel squeeze (4 times). The four PIPP scores given during heel stick and squeeze were averaged. Behavioral portion of PIPP score: facial expressions are videotaped and analyzed. Physiologic portion of PIPP score: Oxygen saturation levels and heart rates are recorded at baseline and then continuously throughout initiation of the TENS unit and the heel stick procedure. Contextual score - gestational age + sleep/wake state. Subscale scores are added for a total PIPP score. Total or composite PIPP scores are reported. Scores on the PIPP for full term infants range from 0-18, with 0 being no pain, 1-6 minimal pain, 7-12 moderate pain, 13-18 severe pain.

Time frame: Baseline and first two minutes of heel stick an squeeze. PIPP scores are given every 30 seconds for the first two minutes of the heel stick and squeeze and then averaged..

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Salivary Cortisol After Heel Stick

Salivary cortisol was obtained prior to initiation of heelstick procedure, and at 5±0.5 minutes after procedure by gentle insertion in the mouth of a soft applicator (Salimetrics Infant Swab). The samples were stored at -20 degrees, and were analyzed at UAMS.

Time frame: Baseline and 5±0.5 minutes after heel stick

Change in Heart Rate Variability During Heel Stick

Changes in Heart Rate Variability (HRV) were evaluated using the DL 900 monitor with 3-channel output with 5 leads. Premature infant leads from Braemar, Incorporated, were used with the DL 900 monitor. Leads were applied to the infant's chest before initiation of the TENS unit and the heel stick. The DL300 Holter Monitor will started recording HRV within 10 minutes of TENS unit initiation and the heel stick procedure and continued recording during the procedure and for 2 minutes afterwards.

Time frame: Baseline, 20 minutes +/- 5 minutes

Duration of Crying After TENS Unit Was Initiated But Before Heel Stick.

(a) Any crying after initiation of TENS unit was noted. If the PIPP scores increased by 4 points from baseline, the TENS unit would have been turned off and the infant withdrawn from the study (safety outcome).

Time frame: 10 minutes

Duration of Crying During Heel Stick

Any crying during the heel stick procedure was timed in seconds.

Time frame: 5 minutes +/- 2 minutes