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Emla versus ice as a topical anesthetic
1University of Tennessee, Division of Dermatology, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. r.kuwahara@excite.com
Ice and EMLA cream effectively reduce injection pain. While EMLA offered slightly better pain control, ice is a faster, cheaper alternative for topical anesthesia.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Pain Management
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Topical anesthetics are widely available for pain management.
- Ice offers an accessible and cost-effective option for topical anesthesia.
- Limited research exists comparing ice to other topical anesthetics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of EMLA (eutectic mixture of local anesthetics) and ice as topical anesthetics.
- To evaluate pain reduction before needle injection using a 30-gauge needle.
Main Methods:
- EMLA cream applied for ~52 minutes; ice applied for 1-2 minutes.
- Cutaneous analgesia assessed via injection of 1% lidocaine with epinephrine.
- Pain was quantified using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
Main Results:
- Both EMLA and ice significantly reduced injection-related discomfort compared to no treatment (P <.01).
- EMLA demonstrated a statistically significant difference in pain control compared to ice (P <.05).
- Patients perceived EMLA as a slightly stronger analgesic than ice.
Conclusions:
- Both EMLA and ice serve as effective topical anesthetics for needle injections.
- Ice presents advantages in terms of ease of use, rapid onset, and cost-effectiveness.
- EMLA and ice are viable options, each with distinct clinical benefits and drawbacks.
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