Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42215032›Full record

Trial reportBMJ paediatrics open2026

The efficacy of oral sucrose for relieving lumbar puncture pain in neonates: a randomised clinical trial.

Alireza Jashni Motlagh, Sina Mashayekhipour, Mahsa Khoshnam Rad, Niloofar Khoshnam Rad

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMJ paediatrics open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Alireza Jashni MotlaghPediatrics & Neonatology, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Alborz Province, Iran (the Islamic Republic of).
Sina MashayekhipourAlborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Alborz Province, Iran (the Islamic Republic of).
Mahsa Khoshnam RadReproductive Health, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Alborz Province, Iran (the Islamic Republic of) m.khoshnamrad@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0001-5353-0556
Niloofar Khoshnam RadThoracic Research Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran (the Islamic Republic of).

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo evaluate the analgesic efficacy and physiological effects of oral sucrose during lumbar puncture (LP) in term neonates. STUDY

designThis double-blind, randomised trial enrolled 60 full-term neonates undergoing LP. Participants were randomly given 2 mL of 25% oral sucrose or sterile water 2 min before the procedure. The primary outcome was pain score change from baseline via the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS). Secondary outcomes included changes in heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and oxygen saturation (SpO₂). Measurements were taken at baseline, 1 min, and 3 min post-LP.

resultsThe sucrose group showed significantly smaller changes in NIPS scores at 1 min (1.0 vs 5.0, p<0.001) and 3 min (0.0 vs 4.0, p<0.001), along with smaller HR increases (p=0.012) and SpO₂ decreases (p=0.023) at 1 min post-procedure. Clinically significant tachycardia (HR >160 bpm) occurred in 40% of controls vs 13.3% of sucrose-treated infants (p=0.045), and desaturation (SpO₂ <90%) in 26.7% of controls vs 6.7% of the sucrose group (p=0.038).

conclusionA 2 mL dose of 25% oral sucrose administered 2 min prior to LP is a safe and effective intervention that significantly reduces behavioural and physiological markers of pain in term neonates during the immediate post-procedural period.

Indexed as

AnalgesicsPainPain ManagementSpinal PunctureSucroseAdministration, OralDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHeart RateHumansInfant, NewbornMalePain MeasurementTreatment OutcomeAnalgesicsSucroseNeonatologyNursingPain

Identifiers

PMID42215032
PMCPMC13223651

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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.