Sedation administered to very low birth weight premature infants.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of individualized developmental care for very low birth weight infants on the amount of sedation used in their treatment.

Methods: A randomized control trial was conducted. Each infant in the experimental group underwent evaluation weekly, and individualized behaviorally oriented care plans, aimed at reducing stress and promoting self-regulatory behaviors, were prepared and implemented. Control infants received the usual standard of nursery care. Total doses of opioids and chloral hydrate were calculated. Severity of illness during the initial hospital stay was stratified with use of the Neonatal Medical Index.

Results: Severely ill infants in the treatment group required less chloral hydrate than those in the control group. Infants who were not severely ill received little or no sedation, and among this subgroup treatment and control infants did not differ.

Conclusions: We speculate that developmentally based care reduces stress levels in severely ill very low birth weight infants and thus decreases sedation requirements.