Snuggles, not struggles: evaluation of a post-operative pain management protocol in a level III community NICU
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Publication Date
4-29-2026
Keywords
oregon, psvmc, psvmc gme, psvmc oaa
Disciplines
Medical Education
Abstract
Abstract: Neonates are an extremely sensitive population often subject to painful interventions. This pain can have numerous adverse effects including physiologic instability, altered brain development, and abnormal stress responses, which can persist into childhood. Effective post-operative pain management for neonates is crucial for promoting positive developmental outcomes. No specific post-operative pain protocol for neonatal patients has shown to be most effective, so the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that healthcare institutions establish a neonatal pain protocol to provide more standardized care. This project is a retrospective, single center observational study determined to be exempt by the institutional review board. Infants cared for in a Level III community neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022 receiving post-operative care prior to the implementation of a standardized post-operative pain protocol, and between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024 receiving post-operative care after the implementation of a standardized post-operative pain protocol will be identified. Infants with pain following procedures not included in the policy and patients who died within 48 hours of the procedure will be excluded. Data collected will include gestational age at birth, corrected gestational age on date of surgery, weight, date and type of operation, operating surgeon, adherence to protocol, NPASS scores, total amount of morphine milligram equivalents, duration of continuous analgesic infusions and scheduled pain medications, number of as needed analgesics administered, and post-operative complications. Based on this information, the impact and clinical outcomes of a standardized postoperative pain protocol in a level III community NICU can be evaluated. Results and conclusions will be presented. Learning Objectives: Evaluate the impact of a standardized post-operative pain protocol in neonates who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) post-operatively before and after protocol implementation in a Level III community NICU Presentation Category: Pediatrics
Specialty/Research Institute
Graduate Medical Education
Specialty/Research Institute
Internal Medicine
