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Last Updated on November 24, 2025 by
Until the late 1980s, a disturbing reality existed in hospitals worldwide. Many infants underwent surgery without anesthesia. This was because of a misconception that infants couldn’t feel pain due to their immature nervous systems.
We now know this belief was wrong. Landmark research showed the true extent of neonatal suffering. This led to a big change in how we protect our youngest patients. The history of infant surgery without anesthesia teaches us a lot about pain management.
We’ve learned that infants can feel pain, which has led to big improvements in medical care. We keep learning more about pain perception. This includes conditions like can’t feel pain disorder, a rare condition where people can’t feel pain.Explore the history of infant surgery and anesthesia. Delve into the fascinating question of is there people that can’t feel pain and its implications.
Until the 1980s, doctors often did surgeries on babies without much anesthesia. This was because many thought babies didn’t feel pain like adults do.
Babies went through many surgeries, like circumcisions, hernia repairs, and cardiac surgeries. These surgeries were done with little or no pain relief.
Some common surgeries for babies back then were:
Doctors back then believed babies didn’t feel pain like adults. So, they didn’t use much anesthesia for surgeries.
Now, we know this was wrong. Studies have shown that babies can feel pain. This has changed how we handle pain in newborns today.
For a long time, doctors thought babies couldn’t feel pain. This idea came from old theories and studies, like one from Columbia University.
They thought babies’ nervous systems were too young to handle pain. This made doctors believe newborns and young babies didn’t feel pain like adults do.
Doctors thought babies’ nervous systems were not fully grown. They believed nerve pathways were not ready to send pain signals.
A study at Columbia University looked at how babies reacted to surgery. The study saw signs of distress but thought it was just reflexes, not pain.
Some researchers doubted this idea. They thought the reactions could show a deeper pain response. But back then, most doctors believed babies didn’t feel pain like adults.
Knowing why doctors thought this helps us see how far we’ve come. We now understand that newborns can feel pain. This knowledge has changed how we handle pain in baby care.
Understanding how infants feel pain is key to giving them the right medical care. Recent studies have greatly improved our understanding. They show that babies can feel pain.
Research shows that even premature babies have the neural pathways for pain. The development of pain in infants is complex. It involves the growth of the nervous system.
By about 24 weeks in the womb, babies can start feeling pain. This is because the necessary neural connections are formed by then.
Finding out if a newborn is in pain can be hard. But there are signs that doctors look for. These include changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels.
Behavioural changes like facial expressions and body language also show pain. For example, a baby in pain might have a furrowed brow or tightly closed eyes.
It’s important to recognize these signs to manage pain well. Untreated pain can harm a child’s development and future pain sensitivity. So, healthcare providers must assess and manage pain in infants correctly.
In 1987, a groundbreaking study changed how we think about infant pain. found that babies in surgery without enough anesthesia showed huge stress signs.
Doctors used a detailed method to study infant pain. They looked at heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormone levels in babies having heart surgery.
The study’s results were shocking. Babies with little or no anesthesia during surgery showed extreme physiological stress responses. They had big increases in heart rate and blood pressure. They also had high levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.
This study was a wake-up call for doctors. It showed the need for better pain management in baby surgeries.
Untreated pain in baby surgeries can have big long-term effects. Studies show that babies who don’t get enough pain relief might face long-term developmental and behavioural problems. This makes it very important to manage pain well in newborn care.
As we learn more about infant pain, the 1987 study was a key step. It helped us move towards more caring and effective care for our youngest patients.
Feeling pain is key to our survival. Yet, some people are born with or develop conditions that block this vital sense. Infants are not born without the ability to feel pain. But rare medical conditions can affect how people perceive pain.
Congenital Insensitivity to Pain (CIP) is a rare genetic disorder. People with CIP can’t feel pain. This can cause unnoticed injuries and health problems. CIP often comes with other neurological issues, greatly affecting a person’s quality.
Babies are not born without the ability to feel pain. Studies show that infants can feel pain from a very early age. Their pain perception is similar to that of adults. The idea that babies don’t feel pain has been proven wrong by many studies, including a 1987 groundbreaking one.
Some important facts about CIP and pain perception include:
When we found out that babies can feel pain, it changed how doctors work. Medical teams and groups started to look at their old ways and update them.
By the mid-1980s, books on medicine had changed, too. They now say to use anesthesia for baby surgeries. This big change showed that babies can feel pain and need help with it.
In 1987, the American Academy of Pediatrics made a big statement. They said it’s wrong to do surgery on babies without anesthesia. The physician said, “It’s very important to help babies avoid pain and stress.”
This statement showed that doctors really care about babies’ comfort. It said that we must make sure babies get the right pain relief. This is our job as doctors.
Looking back, we see big steps forward in helping babies with pain. This caring approach has made a big difference in how we treat newborns.
Modern medicine has made huge progress in understanding and managing pain in infants during surgery. We’ve moved away from old practices where surgeries were done without enough anesthesia. Today, we know that infants can feel pain and that ignoring it can harm their development and health.
Today’s anesthesia for newborns is more advanced, considering their special needs. Anesthesia is now tailored to the specific needs of each infant, ensuring they get the right pain relief during surgery. We use advanced monitoring to check the anesthesia level and adjust as needed.
Neonatal medicine has greatly improved outcomes for infants in surgery. Regional anesthesia techniques, like caudal blocks, are used more to give effective pain relief with fewer side effects. New analgesic medications and guidelines have also helped us better manage pain in this sensitive group.
Hospitals like LivHospital are leading in infant pain management. They follow current guidelines and help in research and new protocols. By focusing on patient-centred care and keeping up with new findings, they set a high standard for neonatal care worldwide.
Our understanding of infant pain has changed a lot. We used to think they couldn’t feel pain, but now we know they do. It’s important to manage their pain well. A study shows that up to 80% of kids in hospitals feel pain. This shows we need to manage pain better.
The medical world has made big changes. Now, there are clear rules for handling pain in kids, thanks to the World Health Organization (WHO). Some kids, like those with Congenital Insensitivity to Pain (CIP), are different. But most babies can feel pain. As we get better at caring for newborns, we must focus on managing pain. We must also follow ethical rules to make sure we’re doing the right thing.
By recognizing that babies do feel pain and finding ways to manage it, we can help them more. We can make sure they get the care and support they need.
Yes, research shows that infants can feel pain during surgery. Studies have found that they show signs of pain, like changes in behaviour and body responses. This proves they can feel pain.
Congenital Insensitivity to Pain (CIP) is a rare condition where people are born without pain sensitivity. It often comes with other brain issues. It’s not about normal pain in babies.
Babies can feel pain early in their development, even before birth. Scientists are studying when this starts. But babies can feel pain from a young age.
At first, people thought babies couldn’t feel pain because their brains were not fully developed. But in the 1980s, a study by two famous doctors changed this. They showed that babies can feel pain.
Not managing pain in surgery can cause a lot of stress in babies. It can also affect their growth and how they feel pain later in life.
The medical world has changed a lot. They’ve updated textbooks and made new rules for managing pain in babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics even made a statement in 1987 about the need to manage pain in infants.
Today, doctors carefully choose anesthesia for babies based on their age, weight, and health. This helps reduce pain and stress during surgery.
Yes, some hospitals are at the forefront of caring for newborns and managing pain. They set high standards and share best practices for surgery.
Yes, newborns can feel pain. Studies have shown that they can sense pain, and it’s a key part of their care.
Yes, there are rare conditions like Congenital Insensitivity to Pain (CIP) where people can’t feel pain. But this is different from the normal pain feeling in babies.
