OBJECTIVE. The objectives of this study were to review the use of oral sucrose for procedural pain management in NICUs, develop potentially better practice guidelines that are based on the best current evidence, and provide ideas for the implementation of these potentially better practices. METHODS.A collaboration of 12 centers of the Vermont Oxford Network worked together to review the strength of the evidence, clinical indications, dosage, administration, and contraindications and identify potential adverse effects for the use of sucrose analgesia as the basis of potentially better practices for sucrose analgesia guidelines. Several units implemented the guidelines.RESULTS. Through reviews and inputs from all centers of the evidence, consensus was reached and guidelines that included indication, dosage per painful procedure, age-related dosage over 24 hours, method of delivery, and contraindications were developed.CONCLUSIONS. Guidelines now are available from a consensus group, and suggestions for implementation of guidelines, based on implementation of other pain management strategies, were developed.www.pediatrics.org/cgi

OBJECTIVE. Collaborative quality improvement techniques were used to facilitate local quality improvement in the management of pain in infants. Several case studies are presented to highlight this process.METHODS. Twelve NICUs in the Neonatal Intensive Care Quality Improvement Collaborative 2002 focused on improving neonatal pain management and sedation practices. These centers developed and implemented evidence-based potentially better practices for pain management and sedation in neonates. The group introduced changes through plan-do-study-act cycles and tracked performance measures throughout the process.RESULTS. Strategies for implementing potentially better practices varied between centers on the basis of local characteristics. Individual centers identified barriers to implementation, developed tools for improvement, and shared their experience with the collaborative. Baseline data from the 12 sites revealed substantial opportunities for improved pain management, and local potentially better practice implementation resulted in measurable improvements in pain management at participating centers.CONCLUSIONS. The use of collaborative quality improvement techniques enhanced local quality improvement efforts and resulted in effective implementation of potentially better practices at participating centers.www.pediatrics.org/cgi

Objective. Using an evidence-based approach, a Vermont Oxford Network focus group whose goal was to reduce brain injury developed and implemented a number of potentially better practices. Each center approached implementation of the practices differently. Reducing the incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia are important for improving long-term outcomes for low birth weight infants. Methods. Implementation approaches for some but not all of the practices at the various centers are discussed. The practices reviewed include optimal peripartum management, such as resuscitation, avoidance of hypothermia, optimal surfactant delivery, early neonatal management by the most experienced providers, and measures to minimize pain and stress. Additional practices include maintenance of neutral head positioning, fluid volume therapy for hypotension, indomethacin prophylaxis, ventilator management, avoidance of routine suctioning, and limiting the use of sodium bicarbonate and postnatal dexamethasone. Results. Approaches to implementation were center specific, and results vary. Although some practices were easier to implement than others, communication, education, and leadership were critical to the process. Conclusions. The quality improvement multidisciplinary approach is a useful tool for finding ways to reduce the incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia.

Objective. Neonatal care providers from 5 institutions formed a multidisciplinary focus group with the purpose of identifying potentially better practices, the implementation of which would lead to a reduction in the incidence of intracranial hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia in very low birth weight infants. Methods. Practices were analyzed, 4 benchmark neonatal intensive vare units were identified and evaluated, and the literature was assessed using an evidence-based approach. The work was also reviewed by a nationally respected expert. Results. Ten potentially better clinical practices were identified. In addition, variability in cranial ultrasound practice, related to both procedural process and interpretation, was identified as a confounding problem in evaluating quality. Using the same process, potentially better cranial ultrasound practices were also identified. Conclusions. Implementation of these practices will improve clinical outcomes as well as the reliability of sonogram interpretation, the basis for evaluating the quality of the team’s work.