Methodology: 4/5
Usefulness: 2/5
Question and Methods: This double-blinded RCT compares analgesic efficacy of oral sucrose versus placebo in bladder catheterization among infants aged 1 to 3 months.
Findings: 83 participants (41 sucrose, 42 placebo) completed the study, with no significant differences found in either primary (FLACC pain score, p=0.12) nor secondary outcomes (NIPS pain score, heart rate variability, side effects).
Limitations: There are no validated pain measurement tools in the study population. The sample size was relatively small with large confidence intervals.
Interpretation: This study is in line with current practices of using oral sucrose for procedural analgesia only in the validated population of infants under 1 month of age
By: Dr. Eusang Ahn
