Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Assessing Changes in Volatile General Anesthetic Sensitivity of Mice after Local or Systemic Pharmacological Intervention
08:49

Assessing Changes in Volatile General Anesthetic Sensitivity of Mice after Local or Systemic Pharmacological Intervention

Published on: October 17, 2013

Comparison of ethyl chloride spray with topical anaesthetic in children experiencing venepuncture

Elin Haf Davies1, Aevril Molloy

  • 1Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London.

Paediatric Nursing
|April 26, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Ethyl chloride spray and Ametop cream are equally preferred by children for venepuncture pain relief. Ethyl chloride spray offers a viable alternative with reduced self-reported pain during this common pediatric procedure.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric pain management
  • Anesthesiology
  • Clinical trial research

Background:

  • Venepuncture is a common and often painful procedure for children.
  • Topical anesthetics are frequently used to mitigate procedural pain.
  • Ethyl chloride spray and Ametop cream are topical agents for pain relief.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To validate ethyl chloride spray as a pain-minimizing agent during pediatric venepuncture.
  • To compare the efficacy and preference of ethyl chloride spray against Ametop cream.
  • To assess patient preference for pain management during venepuncture.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized non-inferiority cross-over trial was conducted.
  • Seventy-seven children aged 5–13 years participated.
  • Participants underwent glomerular filtration rate measurement, comparing ethyl chloride spray and Ametop cream.

Main Results:

  • Ethyl chloride spray demonstrated equal preference compared to Ametop cream among pediatric patients.
  • Children reported lower self-assessed pain scores with ethyl chloride spray.
  • The study suggests ethyl chloride spray as an alternative topical anesthetic option.

Conclusions:

  • Ethyl chloride spray is a well-tolerated and effective option for reducing venepuncture pain in children.
  • Further research is recommended to optimize the application technique of ethyl chloride spray.
  • Both agents offer comparable patient preference, with ethyl chloride showing a pain reduction advantage.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Topical Airway Anesthesia for Awake-endoscopic Intubation Using the Spray-as-you-go Technique with High Oxygen Flow05:43

Topical Airway Anesthesia for Awake-endoscopic Intubation Using the Spray-as-you-go Technique with High Oxygen Flow

Published on: January 13, 2017

Application of Dixon's Up-and-Down Design to Estimate the Minimum Alveolar Concentration of Sevoflurane in Rats with Refined Movement Classification03:02

Application of Dixon's Up-and-Down Design to Estimate the Minimum Alveolar Concentration of Sevoflurane in Rats with Refined Movement Classification

Published on: July 25, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Local Anesthetics: Common Agents and Their Applications01:23

Local Anesthetics: Common Agents and Their Applications

Local anesthetics (LAs) are commonly used for various applications in medical and dental procedures. Some of the common agents used are cocaine, lidocaine, and bupivacaine.
Cocaine is an ester of benzoic acid and methylecgogine. It is used to anesthetize and vasoconstrict locally. Currently, it is used primarily for topical applications. It is beneficial for surgeries on the upper respiratory tract, providing anesthesia and shrinking the mucosa. Cocaine in the form of cocaine hydrochloride is...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Surface, Infiltration, and Conduction Block Anesthesia01:30

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Surface, Infiltration, and Conduction Block Anesthesia

Depending on the target organ, local anesthetics (LAs) can be administered via various routes. In surface anesthesia, LAs are applied directly to the surface of the skin or mucous membranes. It is widely used for topical skin numbing before venipuncture or minor surgical procedures. Commonly used surface local anesthetics are lidocaine or benzocaine sprays or creams. Surface anesthesia occurs within 5 minutes and lasts for about 60 minutes. One of the main disadvantages of topical anesthesia is...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia01:11

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia

Spinal anesthetics are given during lower abdomen and limb surgeries to block sensory and motor neurons. They are administered in the mid to low lumbar regions, primarily acting on the cauda equina's nerve roots. The blockade level depends on the local anesthetic (LA) concentration. Usually, low LA concentrations are sufficient to block sensory fibers, while only high LA concentrations block motor fibers. Other factors like injection volume and speed, the patient's posture, and the drug...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia01:29

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia

Epidural anesthetics are administered in the fat-filled epidural space, the outermost part of the spinal canal. This technique is commonly employed for pain management and anesthesia during lower abdomen and pelvis surgeries or labor and delivery.
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia01:16

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia

Intravenous regional anesthesia or the Bier block technique is used to anesthetize a specific limb or extremity. It uses exsanguinated or blood-drained vessels to transport local anesthetics or LAs to the peripheral nerve trunks. Lidocaine without vasoconstrictors like epinephrine is most commonly used for this technique. Other drugs used are prilocaine, ropivacaine, and chloroprocaine. Bupivacaine is not recommended for this technique due to its high cardiac toxicity.
One of the advantages of...
Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview01:24

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview

Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.