Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Different Single Doses of Intravenous Paracetamol for Placement of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters in Preterm Infants
Abstract
Background: The availability of a safe and effective pharmacological therapy to reduce procedural pain in preterm infants is limited. The effective analgesic single dose of intravenous paracetamol in preterm infants is unknown. Comparative studies on efficacy of different paracetamol doses in preterm infants are lacking. Objectives: To determine the analgesic effects of different single intravenous paracetamol doses on pain from peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement in preterm infants. Methods: In a blinded randomized controlled trial, the analgesic effects of 10-, 15-, and 20-mg/kg single-dose intravenous paracetamol before PICC placement were compared in neonates with a gestational age 9 mg/L. PIPP (p = 0.78) and COMFORTneo (p = 0.08) scores were also comparable between paracetamol- and sucrose-treated patients. Conclusions: We found no analgesic benefit from intravenous paracetamol studied in different single doses over sucrose for PICC placement in preterm infants. Paracetamol is not a suitable analgesic for this procedure in preterm infants.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 60 participants or records.
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