Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of discomfort in infants with severe bronchiolitis supported by noninvasive ventilation and to identify its potential risk factors.
Methods: A single-centre retrospective observational study. Discomfort was assessed using the EDIN (Echelle de Douleur et d'Inconfort du Nouveau-né) scale.
Results: Ninety-one infants (median age 34 days [Interquartile IQR 19-55], 52 (57%) boys) were included in our study. Overall, no patient had a mean EDIN score higher than 8 on Days 1, 2 and 3. On Days 1 and 2, patients supported by bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) had a higher EDIN score compared with other patients (3.3 [SD 2.5] versus 2.6 [SD 2.2] on Day 1 and 2.9 (SD 2.1) versus 2.3 (SD 2.2) on Day 2, both p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Patients with severe bronchiolitis and supported by any type of noninvasive ventilation had a low degree of discomfort during the first 3 days of ICU stay. Patients requiring bilevel noninvasive ventilation appeared to have a higher degree of discomfort, while we found no correlation between the level of discomfort and the degree of respiratory distress.
Keywords: acute respiratory failure; bronchiolitis; discomfort; intensive care unit; pain.
© 2022 Foundation Acta Paediatrica. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.