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Venepuncture pain can be reduced
Insights
Lidocaine-prilocaine cream, or eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics (EMLA), significantly reduced venepuncture pain in young children compared to placebo. The study found EMLA to be safe and effective for pediatric pain management during needle procedures.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Anesthesiology
- Dermatology
- Pain Management
Background:
- Venepuncture is a common yet painful procedure for infants and children.
- Effective pain management is crucial for positive healthcare experiences in pediatric patients.
- Assessing topical anesthetics for procedural pain relief is an ongoing area of research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics (EMLA) cream in reducing venepuncture pain.
- To compare EMLA's pain-diminishing effects against a placebo in Oriental infants and young children.
- To assess the safety profile of EMLA in this pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted.
- Participants included Oriental infants and young children undergoing venepuncture.
- Pain reactions were assessed using a three-grade scale by a single blinded investigator.
Main Results:
- EMLA treatment resulted in significantly lower pain scores compared to placebo (z = 2.67, P < 0.01).
- The eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics demonstrated superior pain reduction.
- No adverse reactions were reported during the study.
Conclusions:
- EMLA cream is an effective and safe option for alleviating venepuncture pain in Oriental infants and young children.
- The findings support the use of EMLA for pediatric procedural pain management.
- Further research could explore EMLA's efficacy in diverse pediatric populations and other painful procedures.
Abstract:
A lidocaine-prilocaine cream, 'eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics' (EMLA) and placebo were compared regarding their ability to diminish venepuncture pain in Oriental infants and young children. The investigation was double-blind and randomized. Twenty-eight children (median age 30 months) were treated with a placebo and 27 (median age 24 months) with EMLA. All pain reactions were observed by the same investigator and classified according to a three-grade scale: no pain, slight pain and severe pain. Treatment with EMLA resulted in significantly lower pain scores than treatment with the placebo (z = 2.67, P less than 0.01). No adverse reactions were observed.