Safety of Noninvasive Electrical Stimulation of Acupuncture Points During a Routine Neonatal Heel Stick.

Background: Hospitalized infants may undergo frequent painful procedures with inadequate pain relief. Alternative pain relief interventions are needed.

Objective: The aim of this research was to determine the safety of noninvasive electrical stimulation of acupuncture points (NESAP) in neonates who were receiving routine heel sticks.

Design: This was a descriptive study performed to assess the safety of using a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit to deliver NESAP to neonates.

Setting/subjects: The subjects were healthy newborn infants<3 days old before hospital discharge.

Intervention: The intervention was NESAP delivered via a TENS unit, administered before, during, and after heel stick. The electrodes of the TENS unit were applied at four acupuncture points. Settings were gradually increased: 6 infants received 1.0 mA, 2 Hz; the second 6 infants received 2.0 mA, 10 Hz; and the last 18 infants received 3.5 mA, 10 Hz.

Main Outcome Measures: THREE MAIN MEASURES WERE USED: (1) skin assessment (2) vital signs; (3) pain scores using the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP).

Results: There were no significant changes in vital signs during and after NESAP. There were no changes in PIPP scores in the first 12 infants after initiation of NESAP. A slight but nonsignificant increase in PIPP scores (from 2.65 to 3.5 on a scale of 0-18) occurred in the last 18 infants. There were no adverse events during or after NESAP.

Conclusions: NESAP is safe for infants with low settings on a TENS unit.