[Value of percutaneous trinitrin to facilitate access to the peripheral venous system in infants]

In order to establish the value of a small dose of trinitrine (0.4 mg less than 1 yr and 0.8 mg greater than 1 yr of age) to facilitate access to peripheral veins in the pediatric age group, 150 children were divided in 3 equal groups. In group 1, trinitrine was used whereas in group 2 vaseline was applied to the puncture site. In group 3, trinitrine was applied at a distance from the zone of puncture. The degree of difficulty of gaining access to the venous system was assessed through the use of scoring from 1 to 5. A score of 1 indicated easy access, 5 was indicative of failure. In order to determine the eventual hemodynamic effects of such a dose of trinitrine, 8 children were studied during a cardiac catheterization. Application of trinitrine on the zone of puncture made easier the peripheral venous approach in children under 1 year of age (p less than 0.02). No patient presented with headache or vertigo and no hemodynamic changes were observed during cardiac catheterization. The application of a small percutaneous dose of trinitrine on the zone of puncture seems to be a simple, efficacious and innocuous method to facilitate access to peripheral veins in infants.