Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Quantifying Acute Changes in Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity in Response to Central Nervous System Manipulations in Anesthetized Rats
06:30

Quantifying Acute Changes in Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity in Response to Central Nervous System Manipulations in Anesthetized Rats

Published on: September 11, 2018

Helping to alleviate pain for children having venepuncture

Siobhan Gilboy1, Eleanor Hollywood

  • 1The National's Children Hospital, County Dublin, Ireland.

Paediatric Nursing
|November 6, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Minimizing pain during pediatric venepuncture is crucial. This review covers topical anesthetics, distraction methods, and parental presence to improve the experience for children and healthcare providers.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nursing
  • Pain Management
  • Medical Procedures

Background:

  • Venepuncture is a common yet potentially painful procedure for children.
  • Effective pain management strategies are essential for pediatric patient comfort and cooperation.
  • Literature review is needed to consolidate evidence on best practices for pediatric venepuncture.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing literature on venepuncture in children.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of topical anesthetic agents for pediatric venepuncture.
  • To explore the benefits of non-pharmacological interventions like distraction and parental presence.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature search on pediatric venepuncture pain management.
  • Analysis of studies investigating topical anesthetics (tetracaine/amethocaine gel, lidocaine/prilocaine cream).
  • Review of evidence supporting distraction techniques and the role of parental presence.

Main Results:

  • Topical agents like tetracaine (amethocaine) gel and lidocaine/prilocaine cream show evidence of efficacy in reducing venepuncture pain.
  • Distraction techniques and the presence of a parent can significantly ease the procedure for children.
  • Multimodal approaches combining pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods appear most beneficial.

Conclusions:

  • Topical anesthetics, distraction, and parental presence are valuable tools for managing pediatric venepuncture pain.
  • Implementing these strategies can improve the procedural experience for children, families, and healthcare professionals.
  • Further research may refine optimal combinations and protocols for pain reduction in pediatric venepuncture.

Related Concept Videos

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...
Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition01:27

Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition

Parenteral Nutrition (PN) delivers essential nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. It is commonly used for individuals with severe digestive disorders or conditions that prevent normal nutrient absorption.
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
Peripheral Artery Disease V: Postoperative Nursing Management01:23

Peripheral Artery Disease V: Postoperative Nursing Management

During the postoperative period, it is crucial to focus on maintaining circulation, identifying and managing potential complications, and planning for discharge.Nursing AssessmentVital signs monitoring: Regularly monitor vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature, to detect early signs of complications such as bleeding and infection.Circulation assessment: Monitor pulses, perform Doppler assessments, and check capillary refill, color, temperature, and...
Venous Thrombosis IV: Nursing Management01:30

Venous Thrombosis IV: Nursing Management

Nursing management begins with a thorough assessment of the patient's health history. Key factors include trauma to veins, peripherally inserted central catheters, varicose veins, recent pregnancy or childbirth, surgery, bacteremia, prolonged bed rest, atrial fibrillation, COPD, heart failure, cancer, coagulation disorders, myocardial infarction, spinal cord injury, stroke, prolonged travel, recent bone fractures, and dehydration. Review medication intake, particularly oral contraceptives,...
Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
Endoscopic Studies II: Thoracocentesis01:26

Endoscopic Studies II: Thoracocentesis

Thoracentesis(Thoracocentesis), commonly known as pleural tap, is a medical procedure where a 22 gauge needle is inserted into the pleural space, the area between the lung and chest wall. This procedure is commonly performed to diagnose or treat various respiratory disorders.
Description
Excess pleural fluid or air may accumulate in some respiratory disorders in the thoracic cavity. To treat pleural effusion, a physician conducts thoracentesis by carefully piercing the chest wall and entering...