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The effective time and concentration of nitrous oxide to reduce venipuncture pain in children

Atsushi Furuya1, Masaki Ito, Tasuku Fukao

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, Yamanashi Prefectural Central Hospital, Yamanashi 400-8506, Japan. vzz06573@nifty.com

Journal of Clinical Anesthesia
|May 26, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Inhaled nitrous oxide (N2O) effectively reduces pain from intravenous cannulation in children. A 70% concentration for three minutes provided significant pain relief, with similar side effect rates across groups.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Pain Management
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Intravenous (IV) cannulation is a common and often painful procedure for children.
  • Effective pain management strategies are crucial to improve patient experience and cooperation during medical procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the optimal concentration and duration of inhaled nitrous oxide (N2O) for reducing IV cannulation pain in pediatric patients.
  • To compare the efficacy of different N2O administration protocols.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective, randomized study was conducted with 73 children (aged 6-15 years) undergoing elective surgery.
  • Participants were allocated to four groups receiving either 50% or 70% N2O in O2 for three or five minutes prior to IV cannulation.
  • Pain was assessed by parents and nurses immediately after the procedure.

Main Results:

  • Children receiving 70% N2O in O2 (Groups 3 and 4) reported significantly lower pain scores compared to those receiving 50% N2O (Groups 1 and 2).
  • No significant difference in pain reduction was observed between three and five minutes of 70% N2O administration.
  • The frequency of side effects was comparable across all study groups.

Conclusions:

  • Administering 70% nitrous oxide (N2O) in oxygen for three minutes is an effective method for alleviating venipuncture pain in children.
  • This concentration and duration provide a favorable balance between efficacy and administration time for pediatric IV cannulation.
Abstract

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