Differences in pain perception associated with intravenous catheter insertion

Seven intravenous catheter brands were compared for differences in pain perception associated with catheter insertion. A sample population included 210 healthy volunteers. Three key elements emerged from data analysis: 1) first insertions were viewed as less painful than second insertions; 2) thin-walled catheters were viewed as less painful than thick-walled catheters; 3) differences between brands exist. Catheters viewed as more painful were Travenol (Quik-Cath, Travenol Laboratories, Inc., Deerfield, Illinois) and Terumo (Surflo, Terumo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). No catheter was viewed as less painful, but Insyte (Deseret Medical, Inc., Sandy, Utah) did approach statistical significance.