Bring a little sweetness to the (exam) table

Sucrose solution has been found to mitigate the pain of some procedures, such as circumcision, for infants.¹ It also can make the neonatal exam easier for both the newborn and the pediatrician. I find that dipping a pacifier, or a finger, in sucrose solution and offering it to the infant quickly calms the patient and allows a much more thorough examination. This strategy is particularly helpful when evaluating a newborn for cardiac disease or palpating the abdomen for a possible mass.

You can make your own sucrose solution by adding one packet (1/2 teaspoon) of table sugar to 10 mL of sterile water. Or, if you don't have time to make the solution, a commercial preparation called Sweet-Ease is available at www.childmed.com.

Lance Cordoni, MD
Peoria, Ill.

REFERENCE

1. Herschel M, Khoshnood B, Ellman C, et al: Neonatal circumcision: Randomized trial of a sucrose pacifier for pain control. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1998;152(3):279

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