A Single Dose of Oral Sucrose Is Enough to Control Pain During Venipuncture: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Sucrose is effective in reducing pain during minor procedures in neonates. We evaluated whether a second dose of sucrose was more effective than a single dose during venipuncture. We performed a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial at the NICU of Padua Hospital (August 2016-October 2017). We randomised 72 preterm infants undergoing venipuncture for routine test to a control group, which received a single standard dose of sucrose 2 ' before the procedure and a placebo 30 '' after the venipuncture, and an experimental group in which they received two doses of 24% sucrose 2 ' before and 30 '' after the venipuncture. No difference in pain perception was found between the groups at 30 '', 60 '' and 120 ''. In conclusion, we do not recommend a second dose of sucrose during venipuncture in prematures.