In a groundbreaking study, researchers have found that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) may offer comparable pain relief to breast milk during heel lance procedures in healthy term neonates. This randomized controlled trial, involving 125 neonates, examined the pain-relieving impact of LLLT (also known as photobiomodulation) versus breast milk feeding during heel lance procedures in healthy full-term neonates. During the trial, neonates were randomly assigned to either the LLLT group (n=55), receiving laser therapy to the heel lance site before the procedure, or the breast milk group (n=59), receiving expressed breast milk via a syringe.

Behavioral responses were the primary outcomes measured, while secondary outcomes encompassed physiological responses and levels of salivary cortisol and α-amylase. While there were no profound differences in latency to first cry or cry duration between the two groups, the study revealed that the squeeze time was substantially shorter in the LLLT group when compared to the breast milk group, as shown in Table 1:

Furthermore, pain scores and vital signs like heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure illustrated no meaningful differences before and after heel lance between the study groups. Interestingly, while salivary cortisol and α-amylase levels remained stable in the LLLT group before and after the procedure, major differences were witnessed in the breast milk group.

These findings suggest that LLLT could be a viable alternative for ameliorating procedural pain in neonates, offering potential as an analgesic treatment. Further research is warranted to explore the efficacy and safety of LLLT in this context, but this study marks a significant step forward in neonatal pain management.