A preterm infant has just been admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit.The infant's parents ask the nurse about anesthesia and analgesia when painful procedures are necessary.What should the nurse's explanation be?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pain pathways and neurochemical systems associated with pain transmission are intact and functional in neonates.Painful stimuli cause a global stress response,including cardiorespiratory changes,palmar sweating,increased intracranial pressure,and hormonal and metabolic changes.Adequate analgesia and anesthesia are necessary to decrease the stress response.The pathways are sufficiently myelinated to transmit the painful stimuli and produce the pain response.Local and systemic pharmacologic agents are available to permit anesthesia and analgesia for neonates.

A Preterm Infant Has Just Been Admitted to the Neonatal