Oral glucose in preterm neonates during oropharyngeal suctioning: a randomized controlled cross-over trial

To investigate whether orally applied glucose reduces pain response during oropharyngeal suctioning in preterm infants with a birth weight > 1500 g, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trial on 32 preterm infants undergoing oropharyngeal suctioning while on nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). The Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) score was assessed and compared in a cross-over design to investigate whether there was a significant difference in the patients' pain response. The mean PIPP score during oropharyngeal suctioning after placebo was 8.6 (KI 7.8-9.4). After glucose administration, the mean PIPP score was 8.0 (KI 7.1-8.9). Comparison of the treatment effects reached no statistic significance (p = 0.23). During the oral study drug administration during nasal CPAP, we observed 47 adverse events, but none necessitated therapeutic intervention and none was classified as serious. Conclusion: In our study, late preterm infants in the first days of life did not benefit significantly from analgesia with glucose during oropharyngeal suctioning. The oral administration of glucose under nasal CPAP led to no serious adverse events.