Intravenous and Topical Analgesics for Procedural Pain in Neonates

Systemic Analgesia and Local Anaesthesia for Percutaneous Venous Catheter Placement in Preterm Neonates

This study will test which type of pain medication is best for the management of pain in newborn preterm and full-term infants having a deep intravenous cannula inserted. It will compare the effectiveness of intravenous morphine alone, a local anaesthetic cream (amethocaine) alone, and both medications together. It will also determine the safety of both medications.

Inclusion Criteria:

• preterm and full-term infants in the NICU requiring a percutaneous central venous catheter
• ventilatory support in the form of conventional ventilation, Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) or High Frequency Oscillation(HFO)

Exclusion Criteria:

• seizures
• receiving muscle relaxants
• skin disorders causing disruption of stratum corneum