Short-term Impact of Assisted Deliveries: Evaluation Based on Behavioral Pain Scoring and Heart Rate Variability

In this study, we hypothesized that pain related to instrumental delivery could impair autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity. Materials and Methods: We investigated infants born by spontaneous delivery (SD group, n=35) and those whose deliveries were assisted by vacuum, forceps, or both (AD group, n=35) between the second and fourth hours of life. Pain was evaluated using the Echelle de Douleur et d’Inconfort du Nouveau-Né/Neonatal Pain and Discomfort Scale (EDIN) behavioral pain scale. ANS activity was analyzed using the newborn infant parasympathetic evaluation (NIPE) index, a heart rate variability based index which is related to the autonomic activity mediated by the parasympathetic nervous system. Results: Neonates in the AD group presented higher EDIN scores than neonates born by spontaneous vaginal deliveries (SD group) (P
Source: The Clinical Journal of Pain - Category: Anesthesiology Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research