Observational studyThe Journal of pediatrics2017
Narcotics and Sedative Use in Preterm Neonates.
Observational study in The Journal of pediatrics, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
23 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 46 citations in OpenAlex.
- Opioid equipotency conversions for hospitalized infants: a systematic review.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2024Pooled it
- Neonatal Pain, Agitation, and Sedation Scale's use, reliability, and validity: a systematic review.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2020Pooled it
- Opioid and Methadone Prescribing for Infants with Surgical Management of Congenital Heart Disease.Pediatric cardiology · 2026Observational
- Associations between opioid exposure and brain size among extremely preterm infants.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2026Article
- Cumulative exposure to opioids and benzodiazepines in extremely preterm neonates.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2026Article
- Analgesia and sedation increases bronchopulmonary dysplasia risk without significant neurodevelopmental impairment in very preterm infants.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Article
- Use of dexmedetomidine during mechanical ventilation in extremely preterm and extremely low birth weight neonates receiving morphine: A single-center retrospective study.Paediatric & neonatal pain · 2024Article
- Brain health in preterm infants: importance of early-life pain and analgesia exposure.Pediatric research · 2024Review
- The Cost of Opioid Use in High-Risk Hospitalized Infants.The Journal of surgical research · 2024Article
- Comparison of Outcomes of Less Invasive Surfactant Administration in Prematurely Born Infants in the Delivery Suite and the Neonatal Unit.American journal of perinatology · 2024Article
- Pain Exposure and Brain Connectivity in Preterm Infants.JAMA network open · 2024Article
- Institutional and Regional Variation in Opioid Prescribing for Hospitalized Infants in the US.JAMA network open · 2024Article
- Use of narcotics and sedatives among very preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units in China: an observational cohort study.Translational pediatrics · 2023Article
- Opioid and Methadone Use for Infants With Surgically Treated Necrotizing Enterocolitis.JAMA network open · 2023Article
- Same baby, different care: variations in practice between neonatologists and pediatric intensivists.European journal of pediatrics · 2022Article
- Frequencies, Modalities, Doses and Duration of Computerized Prescriptions for Sedative, Analgesic, Anesthetic and Paralytic Drugs in Neonates Requiring Intensive Care: A Prospective Pharmacoepidemiologic Cohort Study in 30 French NICUs From 2014 to 2020.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2022Article
- A Critical Review on the Relevance of Paracetamol for Procedural Pain Management in Neonates.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2020Review
- Exposure to Morphine and Caffeine Induces Apoptosis and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in a Neonatal Rat Brain.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2020Article
- Less invasive surfactant administration (LISA): chances and limitations.Archives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal edition · 2019Review
- Rational Use of Medicines in Neonates: Current Observations, Areas for Research and Perspectives.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2018Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesTo evaluate patterns of narcotic and sedative use in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across Canada using data collected by the Canadian Neonatal Network. STUDY
designWe conducted a retrospective observational cohort study of preterm neonates at <33 weeks' gestation and admitted to a participating Canadian Neonatal Network NICU. The proportion of all neonates who received sedative(s), narcotic(s), or either sedative(s), narcotic(s), or both during their NICU stay was calculated for each year. Because opioids are used for premedication before intubation, only continuous infusions of a narcotic drug were included. Variation in narcotics and sedative usage between sites in 2014 was determined using logistic regression analysis, with adjustment for gestational age, surgery, and mechanical ventilation.
resultsOf 20 744 neonates, 29% of neonates received a narcotic, a sedative, or both; 23% received a narcotic and 17% a sedative. Although no clinically significant changes in drug exposure were documented during the 5-year period, there were statistically significant differences in narcotic and sedative use between sites, ranging from 3% to 41% for narcotic and 2% to 48% for sedative use (aORs 0.2-5.7 and 0.1-15, respectively, P < .05).
conclusionsExposure to narcotic or sedative agents is highly variable in preterm neonates across Canada despite concerns of adverse outcomes associated with these drugs. The tremendous variation in practice suggests that further research on their current usage, as well as identifying optimal practice procedures is warranted.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.