OBJECTIVES: to assess pain in premature newborns undergoing mechanical ventilation during respiratory physiotherapy. METHODS: prospective study from February 2003 to May 2004, covering premature newborns with a gestational age of <34 weeks and birth weight <1.500 g, undergoing mechanical ventilation, between the 3rd and 7th day of life. The premature newborns underwent the necessary routine respiratory physiotherapy procedures. The Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) was used to measure pain. The scale was applied before, immediately after commencing physiotherapy, and immediately following airway aspiration. RESULTS: 30 premature newborns were studied (15 male). The average gestational age was 30.70±2.10 weeks and the average birth weight was 1.010.70±294.60 grams. Each newborn was submitted to an average of 7.33 physioterapy sessions. It was verified that there was no statistically significant difference in the presence of pain before and after respiratory physiotherapy, (p=0.09); although there was a statistically significant difference in the presence of pain before and after airway aspiration (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: respiratory physiotherapy does not cause pain, although the aspiration procedure, as it is invasive, is potentially painful.
Pain; Physical therapy, modalities; Infant, premature
