A randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of oral sucrose in infants 1 to 3 months old needing intravenous cannulation.

To compare the efficacy of an oral sucrose versus placebo in reducing pain in infants 1 to 3 months of age during intravenous (IV) cannulation in the Emergency Department (ED).A randomized, double-blind, placebo clinical trial was conducted. Participants were randomly allocated to receive 2 ml of an oral 88% sucrose solution or 2 ml of a placebo solution orally. The outcome measure were mean difference in pain score at one minute post IV cannulation assessed by the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability Pain Scale (FLACC) and the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS), crying time and variations in heart rate.87 participants completed the study, 45 in the sucrose group and 42 in the placebo group. There was no statistical difference in variations in both the FLACC score (p=0.49) and NIPS score (p=0.36) between the two groups as per the Mann Whitney U test. Using the same test, median crying times following IV cannulation were statistically significantly different between both groups (17 seconds in the sucrose group vs 41 seconds in the placebo group, p=0.04). Mean changes in heart rate one minute after IV cannulation were similar in both groups (16 ± 4 for sucrose vs 18 ± 4 beats per minute for placebo, p=0.74). Side effects were similar for both groups and no adverse events were reported.Administration of an oral sucrose solution in infants 1 to 3 months of age during IV cannulation did not lead to statistically significant changes in pain scores. However the cry time was significantly reduced. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.