Sweet-Ease pre-mixed sucrose solution...

[pdx.mothernurture]

This is the stuff being used during circs as an 'oral analgesic'.

Sweet-Ease is effective for calming and soothing babies up to six months of age.

http://sweetease.respironics.com/

Jen

[pdx.mothernurture]

A warning:

Health Canada is warning consumers across Canada not to use Sweet-Ease, a sugar-solution pacifier dip because one lot of this product may contain mold...The mold, Cladosporium herbarum, in this product poses a particular health risk because as a contaminant on the pacifier, the infant’s mouth would be exposed to it, and it is a parasite causing fungal infections of the skin, soft tissues or nails and has been documented in cases of candidiasis and other systemic infections, to which new-born infants and those in intensive care units may be particularly susceptible.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media...2005_90_e.html

[pdx.mothernurture]

Guidelines for the Use of 24% Sucrose Water (Sweet-Ease)

http://www.hosp.uky.edu/pharmacy/for...eline12-04.pdf

INDICATIONS FOR USE:
A. Any short-term procedural pain
a. Heel-sticks
b. IV/PICC start
c. IM injection
d. Tape removal
e. LP
f. Suturing
g. Arterial or venous blood draw
h. Suctioning (i.e. nasal)
i. Urinary catheterization
j. Suprapubic tap
k. NG/OG insertion
l. Dressing change
m. Immunization
n. ROP exam
o. Circumcision block
p. Chest tube insertion/removal

It is important to realize that although an infant may still cry and show signs of pain when 24% sucrose water is used, studies have consistently shown that the sensation of pain and its negative effects will be diminished.

[pdx.mothernurture]

Specifically, control infants who underwent a standard circumcision procedure without intervention cried 67% of the time. A water-moistened pacifier reduced crying to 49% (P < .01). Crying was reduced further to 31% (P < .05) by providing infants with a sucrose-flavored pacifier to suck.

http://pediatrics.aappublications.or...tract/87/2/215

Circumcision

Data have also been published describing oral sucrose utilization with circumcisions. Kaufman, Cimo, Miller, and Blass (2002) found that sucrose administered with a pacifier during circumcision provides more analgesic than water on a pacifier. The combination of sucrose and EMLA was more effective in reducing pain responses during circumcision than EMLA alone, sucrose alone, or a water-dipped pacifier in 80 infants evaluated by Mohan, Risucci, Casimir, and Gulrajani-LaCorte (1998). Taddio, Pollock, Gilbert-MacLeod, Ohlsson, and Koren (2000) evaluated 86 infants undergoing circumcision with combined analgesia, including EMLA, acetaminophen, penile nerve block, and an oral sugar solution. The authors found improved pain control over EMLA alone, although different circumcision techniques were used for each group.

In reviewing current pain management regimens used during neonatal circumcision, Taddio (2001) found no single agent provided a pain-free circumcision and recommended a combined analgesia, including a penile block and sucrose-dipped pacifier.

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi....x?cookieSet=1

...sucrose nipple reduced cry duration but had no positive effect on postsurgical cortisol levels.

Telling parents that an anesthetic will be used can give the false impression that their child will feel no pain, when, in fact, the procedure is still quite painful with topical and local anesthesia. One needs to wonder whether topical and local anesthetics are being promoted for the child's benefit or to make physicians feel better about performing circumcisions or to give parents the false assurance that circumcision is pain-free.

http://pediatrics.aappublications.or...ull/103/1/196)

What I keep reading is talk about 'reduced crying time'---well, duh, you're putting something in their mouth, right? Does less crying=less pain? Not necessarily! But, it makes the parents and those participating in the procedure feel less sickened/disgusted/guilty.

Jen

[Telle Bear]

I am having some pain reading this.....maybe I need some sweet -ease

[paminmi]

I think they should be testing this on adults FIRST to see how much pain relief it offers...

[TigerTail]

Yes. Consenting, fully informed adults.

[KnitLady]

So, next time I need surgery, or get hurt, maybe I'll try drink a little sugar water or suck on a piece of hard candy. I'm sure I won't feel any pain then!

Where are these people hiding their common sense?!

[DocsNemesis]

[Naliaah]

It helped out my little one when she was in the hospital for RSV

[Claire and Boys]

I wonder how many women would want their stitches done post birth with just some sugar water for pain relief.

[Frootloop]

Originally Posted by pdx.mothernurture

What I keep reading is talk about 'reduced crying time'---well, duh, you're putting something in their mouth, right? Does less crying=less pain? Not necessarily! But, it makes the parents and those participating in the procedure feel less sickened/disgusted/guilty.

Jen

That was exactly what I was thinking. Why the hell are they focusing so much on the lack of crying? If you put something in an infant's mouth, they're going to suck on it, therefore they're not going to be crying. Umm, hello??? Do they really need studies for this? :

I really wish I could remember where, but I know that I've read somewhere that many infants will suck on a pacifier (or whatever) more frantically when he/she is in pain or stressed in some way. So, I seriously don't get how they could possibly tell whether the sugar concoction actually reduces their pain..

[knucklehead]

Originally Posted by Claire and Boys

I wonder how many women would want their stitches done post birth with just some sugar water for pain relief.

Or men undergoing vasectomies.

[Fi.]

Originally Posted by Naliaah

It helped out my little one when she was in the hospital for RSV

It does help in soothing them, but it's more effective for illnesses. Would you have wanted her to have part of her genitals removed (lets say it was for medical necessity) with only sugar water as a painkiller?

[Jemmind]

My baby is breastfed but we let her go in the nursery at night and had her brought to me to feed...I was so exhausted from the c-section. One time she came back and a paci was in her basinette...hubby and I were very upset about it. When we were discharged I saw that she was given sweetese after her PKU test...that must have been why she had the stupid paci!

[SleeplessMommy]

Originally Posted by pdx.mothernurture

INDICATIONS FOR USE:
...
o. Circumcision block .

Note the exact indication for use: "circumcision block" It is indicated for "pain reduction" while injecting local for the circ. It is not indicated for "pain reduction" during a circ.

If a doc uses just this product, the parents could file a Joint Commission Complaint and/or look for a lawyer. The chances of winning are small, but it is still off label use.

[kriket]

plus, how is the pain associated with removing tape and circumcision even remotely similar!! I can see giving a kid a sucker then ripping the band aid off, that's just a distraction, but you can't give them a sucker then cut a thumb off!! They are going to notice!

[Nandi]

First the mom should be circumcised while sucking on a lollipop. Then asked if she wants it performed on her son.
Someone said something to that effect last time it was discussed. Sums it perfectly...

[BugMacGee]

It does work very well for IV starts and arterial sticks. Very well. The combo of the sucrose and sucking produces natural opioid like substances in the brain.

In our hosp. they use sweet-ease AND lidocaine for circs. At least the few I've been unfortunate enough to be anywhere near. (I'm having serious deja-vu. Didn't I just write this response to another thread?)

[Belletheacd]

And it contains msg to boot! What a great product all around! Where can I find the puke emoticon?

http://westonaprice.org/msg/msgfree.html

"The food ingredient "citric acid" provides us with a good example of why MSG-sensitive people with little tolerance are having difficulty staying well. Many people believe that "citric acid" comes from citrus fruits, and since most people can tolerate citrus fruits, "citric acid" should not be a problem. However, most of the "citric acid" used today is made from corn rather than from citrus fruits. The Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) is a major producer of "citric acid."

"Citric acid" is produced by fermentation of crude sugars. When "citric acid" is produced from corn, manufacturers do not take the time or undertake the expense to remove all corn protein. During processing, the remaining protein is hydrolyzed, resulting in some processed free glutamic acid (MSG). "Citric acid" may also interacts with any protein in the food to which it is added, freeing up more glutamic acid."