Comparison of 10% Dextrose Versus Sterile Water for Pain Relief in Neonates Undergoing IV Cannulation: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Submission: 05 April 2026 | Acceptance: 20 May 2026 | Publication: 15 June 2026
Dr Iqra Sagheer
Sir Gangaram hospital Lahore
ABSTRACT
Objective: To compare the average pain score resulting from the administration of oral dextrose to that of sterile water in intravenous cannulation (IV cannulation).
Study design: Randomized controlled trial.
Place and Duration of the Study: Nursery, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Lahore, from 19th January to 18th July 2023.
Methodology: A total of 60 term neonates were randomly assigned to two groups, with 30 in each. Group A (10% Dextrose group) received 2 ml of 10% dextrose orally, and Group B (Sterile water Group) received sterile water, each administered 2 minutes before intravenous cannulation. Pain response was assessed using the Modified Behavioral Pain Scale (MBPS) 2 minutes post-procedure.
Results: The groups were comparable in baseline characteristics, with non-significant variations in gestational age and weight. The mean APGAR scores at 1 minute were 7.2 ± 1.3 for Group A and 6.8 ± 1.2 for Group B, indicating no significant difference (p = 0.18). In contrast, the mean pain scores measured by the Modified Behavioral Pain Scale (MBPS) showed significantly lower scores in Group A (3.70 ± 1.02) than in Group B (6.27 ± 1.05), with a p-value of 0.001.
Conclusion: The use of 10% dextrose significantly reduced procedural pain in neonates compared to sterile water, indicating its effectiveness for pain relief in neonates undergoing intravenous line placement and potential utility in clinical practice.
Key words: Neonates, 10% Dextrose, Pain Management, IV cannulation