Reducing Pain With IV Insertion Using a Needleless Anesthetic Device in the Pediatric Ambulatory Surgery Unit

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Anesthesiology
• Quality Improvement Science
• Pain Management

Background:

• Pediatric patients undergoing ambulatory surgery often experience significant pain during intravenous (IV) insertion.
• Effective pain management is crucial for a positive patient experience and successful surgical outcomes.
• Current practices may not adequately address procedural pain in pediatric ambulatory settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To decrease pain scores associated with intravenous (IV) insertion by 50% within two months.
• To improve the care quality for children in a pediatric academic hospital's ambulatory surgery center.
• To implement evidence-based interventions for procedural pain reduction.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement project utilizing Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles.
• Implementation of an evidence-based needleless anesthetic (J-Tip with 1% buffered lidocaine).
• Collection of baseline and post-intervention data on pain scores and IV attempts.

Main Results:

• Mean pain scores during IV insertion decreased by 72%, from 5.3 to 1.5 (P < .05).
• A statistically significant reduction in pediatric procedural pain was achieved.
• A slight decrease in the number of IV attempts was observed (1.47 to 1.35).

Conclusions:

• The quality improvement project significantly enhanced care quality for pediatric patients.
• Needleless anesthetic devices effectively minimize pain associated with IV insertions.
• Implementing evidence-based strategies creates a less intimidating environment for pediatric patients.