Neonatal Pain

Giuseppe Buonocore is full professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Unit of Neonatology of the University Hospital of Siena.

He is involved in the coordination of numerous pan-European clinical trials, as for example of the European scientific network EURAIBI (acronym for EURope Against Infant Brain Injury). His research interests are in the mechanisms of cell damage in the neonatal brain, with special reference to hypoxia, the role of oxidant radicals in neonatal diseases and in babies with birth asphyxia. Additional research interest fields are ethics in perinatology and fetal and neonatal pain prevention. His research team is funded by several agencies including the Italian Ministry of University and Scientific Research -cofinance scheme for research projects of high national interest as well as European Community : NEOBRAIN project.

Author of more than 100 scientific publications in international journals with IF ("Pediatric Research", "Biology of Neonate", "Free Radical Biology and Medicine","Acta Pediatrica", "Archives Diseases in Children", " Journal of Pediatrics" and others).

He is Past-President of the European Society for Pediatric Research, and currently a member of the Editorial Board of "Biology of Neonate".

Dr. Bellieni, author of a chapter in the Encyclopedia of Pain, works in the University Hospital of Siena as well, and is a member of several national and international societiesm suche as the European Society of Pediatric Research, the Italian Society of Pediatrics and the Italian Society of Neonatology.


Until relatively recently, neonatal- and fetal-pain have been denied. Thanks to the deeper understanding of their pathophysiology and to the most recent diagnostic tools, there has been a big development in this field, but the treatment of neonatal and fetal pain is still a controversial issue, and a central topic not only in specialties directly concerned with it, but also in bioethics.

This volume offers an overview of the current knowledge in this field. An international team of specialists evaluates neonatal and fetal pain from the different points of view: neurological, pediatric, gynaecological, anesthesiological. They also examine possible consequences of pain, even psychological, on the brain.

Neonatal Pain will be an invaluable resource for neonatologists, pediatricians, anesthesiologists, gynaecologists and other professionals involved in this field, as well for post-graduate students in all disciplines.

This is the first book dealing with fetal pain and its consequences and with pain in premature babies. The volume gives an overview of the current knowledge in this field. An international team of renowned specialists evaluates neonatal and fetal pain from the different points of view, and possible consequences of pain - even psychological - on the brain. This book will be an invaluable resource for professionals and for post-graduate students in all disciplines.

Until relatively recently, neonatal- and fetal-pain have been denied. Thanks to the deeper understanding of their pathophysiology and to the most recent diagnostic tools, there has been a big development in this field, but the treatment of neonatal and fetal pain is still a controversial issue, and a central topic not only in specialties directly concerned with it, but also in bioethics.

Introduction: Pain and Suffering from the Womb Onwards?.- Part 1 Delivery and Pain: Gonad Hormones and Pain Modulation. Stress and Pregnancy: CRF as Biochemical Marker. Pain Control During Labour.- Part 2 Fetal pain: Ultrasound and Fetal Stress: Study of the Fetal Blink-Startle Reflex Evoked by Acoustic Stimuli. Prenatal Affective Exchanges and Their Subsequent Effects in Post-Natal Life. Pain In The Fetus. New Insights into Prenatal Stress: Immediate and Long-Term Effects on the Fetus and Their Timing.- Part 3 Neonatal pain: Pain Assessment and Spectral Analysis of Neonatal Crying. Analgesic Procedures in the Newborns. Nonpharmacological Treatment of Neonatal Pain. Sensory Saturation: An Analgesic Method. Pharmacologic Analgesia in the Newborn. Physical Stress Risk Agents in Incubators.- Part 4 Pain: a Risk Factor for Brain Damage: Neonatal Stressors. New Insights into Neonatal Hypersensitivity. From the Gate-Control Theory to Brain Programs for Neonatal Pain.- Part 5 Pain and Communication: Disclosure of Pathology to the Newborn's Family. Communication of Diagnosis: Pain and Grief in the Experience of Parents of Children with a Congenital Malformation. Invest in Prenatal Life: A High-Yield Stock.- Subject Index