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The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Oct 2012Pre-cancerous lesions of cervix (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)) are usually treated with excisional or ablative procedures. In the UK, the NHS cervical... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Pre-cancerous lesions of cervix (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)) are usually treated with excisional or ablative procedures. In the UK, the NHS cervical screening guidelines suggest that over 80% of treatments should be performed in an outpatient setting (colposcopy clinics). Furthermore, these guidelines suggest that analgesia should always be given prior to laser or excisional treatments. Currently various pain relief strategies are employed that may reduce pain during these procedures.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this review was to assess whether the administration of pain relief reduced pain during colposcopy treatment and in the postoperative period.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Gynaecological Cancer Review Group Specialised Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL - May 2011) (2011, Issue 2), MEDLINE (1950 to May week 2, 2011), EMBASE (1980 to week 20, 2011) for studies of any design relating to analgesia for colposcopic management. We also searched registers of clinical trials, abstracts of scientific meetings, reference lists of included studies and contacted experts in the field.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared all types of pain relief before, during or after outpatient treatment to the cervix, in adult women with CIN undergoing loop excision, laser ablation, laser excision or cryosurgery in an outpatient colposcopy clinic setting.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We independently assessed study eligibility, extracted data and assessed risk of bias. We entered data into RevMan and double checked it for accuracy. Where possible, the results were expressed as mean pain score and standard error of the mean with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and the data were synthesised in a meta-analysis.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 17 RCTs (1567 women) of varying methodological quality in the review. These trials compared a variety of interventions aimed at reducing pain in women who underwent treatment for CIN, including cervical injection with lignocaine alone, lignocaine with adrenaline, prilocaine with felypressin, oral analgesics (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)), inhalation analgesia (gas mixture of isoflurane and desflurane), lignocaine spray, cocaine spray, local application of benzocaine gel, lignocaine-prilocaine cream (EMLA cream) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).Most comparisons were restricted to single trial analyses and were under-powered to detect differences in pain scores between treatments that may or may not have been present. There was no significant difference in pain relief between women who received local anaesthetic infiltration (lignocaine 2%; administered as a paracervical or direct cervical injection) and a saline placebo (2 trials; 130 women; MD -13.74; 95% CI -34.32 to 6.83). However, when local anaesthetic was combined with a vasoconstrictor agent (one trial used lignocaine combined with adrenaline while the second trial used prilocaine combined with felypressin), significantly less pain (on visual analogue scores) occurred compared with no treatment (2 trials; 95 women; MD -23.73; 95% CI -37.53 to -9.93). Comparing two preparations of local anaesthetic plus vasoconstrictor, prilocaine combined with felypressin did not differ from lignocaine combined with adrenaline for its effect on pain control (1 trial; 200 women; MD -0.05; 95% CI -0.26 to 0.16). Although the mean observed blood loss score was less with lignocaine plus adrenaline (1.33 ± 1.05) as compared with prilocaine plus felypressin (1.74 ± 0.98), the difference was not clinically significant as the overall scores in both groups were low (1 trial; 200 women; MD 0.41; 95% CI 0.13 to 0.69). Inhalation of gas mixture (isoflurane and desflurane) in addition to standard cervical injection with prilocaine plus felypressin resulted in significantly less pain during the LLETZ (loop excision of the transformation zone) procedure (1 trial; 389 women; MD -7.20; 95% CI -12.45 to -1.95). Lignocaine plus ornipressin resulted in significantly less measured blood loss (1 trial; 100 women; MD -8.75; 95% CI -10.43 to -7.07) and a shorter duration of treatment (1 trial; 100 women; MD -7.72; 95% CI -8.49 to -6.95) than cervical infiltration with lignocaine alone.One meta-analysis found no statistically significant difference in pain using visual analogue scores between women who received oral analgesic and those who received placebo (2 trials; 129 women; MD -3.51; 95% CI -10.03 to 3.01; Analysis 6.1).Cocaine spray was associated with significantly less pain (1 trial; 50 women; MD -28; 95% CI -37.86 to -18.14) and blood loss (1 trial; 50 women; MD 0.04; 95% CI 0 to 0.70) than placebo.No serious adverse events were reported in any of the trials and majority of trials were at moderate or high risk of bias (n = 12).
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Based on two small trials, there was no significant difference in pain relief in women receiving oral analgesics compared with placebo or no treatment (129 women; MD -3.51; 95% CI -10.03 to 3.01). We consider this evidence to be of a low to moderate quality. In routine clinical practice, intracervical injection of local anaesthetic with a vasoconstrictor (lignocaine plus adrenaline or prilocaine plus felypressin) appears to be the optimum analgesia for treatment. However, further high-quality, adequately powered trials should be undertaken in order to provide the data necessary to estimate the efficacy of oral analgesics, the optimal route of administration and dose of local anaesthetics.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Analgesics; Colposcopy; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Intraoperative Complications; Pain Management; Pain Measurement; Pain, Postoperative; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Uterine Cervical Dysplasia
PubMed: 23076919
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006120.pub3 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Nov 2011Besides risks of miscarriage, pregnant women undergoing amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS) are also concerned about pain associated with these procedures.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Besides risks of miscarriage, pregnant women undergoing amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS) are also concerned about pain associated with these procedures. Currently, approaches to analgesia can be categorised in two broad categories - non-pharmacological and pharmacological agents.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate whether different methods of analgesia have any impact on pain reduction during amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS).
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (31 August 2011).
SELECTION CRITERIA
All randomised trials comparing different method of analgesia for amniocentesis or CVS. We also include trials with quasi-randomised designs, but analyse and report their results separately.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Both review authors assessed eligibility and trial quality and performed data extraction.
MAIN RESULTS
We included a total of five randomised studies (involving 805 women) evaluating different methods of analgesia for amniocentesis; there were no studies in women undergoing CVS.One RCT (N = 203) and one quasi-randomised study (N = 220) compared infiltrative local anaesthesia with no anaesthesia and found no statistical difference in experienced pain on the visual analogue scale (VAS) (mean differences (MD) -2.50 and 1.20; 95% confidence interval (CI) -6.98 to 1.98 and -2.67 to 5.07).One study (N = 200) compared light leg rubbing versus no intervention during amniocentesis and found no change in experienced anxiety (MD 0.2; 95% CI -0.63 to 1.03) or VAS pain score (MD 0.3; 95% CI -0.35 to 0.95) during amniocentesis.Another study with 62 patients did not find any benefit of using subfreezing temperature needle during amniocentesis in terms of decreased VAS pain score (MD -0.8; 95% CI -1.8 to 0.2). In addition, there was no difference between anticipated and actual pain (MD 0.4; 95% CI -0.82 to 1.62) (before/after comparison).There was also no difference in VAS pain scores in the study with 120 participants comparing lidocaine-prilocaine analgesic cream to placebo cream before amniocentesis (MD -0.6; 95% CI -1.44 to 0.24).
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
In general, women who undergo amniocentesis could be informed that pain during procedure is minor and that there is currently insufficient evidence to support the use of local anaesthetics, leg rubbing or subfreezing the needle for pain reduction during procedure.
Topics: Amniocentesis; Analgesia; Anesthesia, Local; Chorionic Villi Sampling; Cryoanesthesia; Female; Humans; Lidocaine; Pain; Pregnancy; Prilocaine; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 22071854
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008580.pub2 -
BMJ Clinical Evidence Apr 2011Preterm or ill neonates may undergo 1 to 21 heel punctures or venepunctures a day. These punctures are likely to be painful. Heel punctures comprise 61% to 87% and... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Preterm or ill neonates may undergo 1 to 21 heel punctures or venepunctures a day. These punctures are likely to be painful. Heel punctures comprise 61% to 87% and venepunctures comprise 8% to 13% of the invasive procedures performed on ill infants. Analgesics are rarely given specifically for blood sampling procedures, but 5% to 19% of infants receive analgesia for other indications.
METHODS AND OUTCOMES
We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical question: What are the effects of interventions to reduce pain-related distress and morbidity during venepuncture in preterm or term babies aged under 12 months in a neonatal unit? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to June 2010 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically, please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
RESULTS
We found 20 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: oral sweet solutions; pacifiers; and topical anaesthetics (lidocaine-prilocaine cream, tetracaine).
Topics: Administration, Oral; Analgesics; Blood Specimen Collection; Double-Blind Method; Humans; Infant; Pain; Pain Measurement; Phlebotomy; Punctures; Tetracaine
PubMed: 21463539
DOI: No ID Found -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Apr 2010Venous leg ulcers affect up to 1 per cent of people at some time in their lives. The main treatments are compression bandages and dressings. As these ulcers are often... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Venous leg ulcers affect up to 1 per cent of people at some time in their lives. The main treatments are compression bandages and dressings. As these ulcers are often painful some clinicians choose particular dressings and topical treatments (analgesia/ local anaesthetic) to reduce the pain both during and between dressing changes.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effectiveness of dressings, local anaesthetics or topical analgesia for pain relief in venous leg ulceration.
SEARCH STRATEGY
For this update the search strings were revised and the following databases were searched: The Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register (Searched 16/12/09) The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) - The Cochrane Library Issue 4 2009; Ovid MEDLINE - 1950 to November Week 3 2009; Ovid EMBASE - 1980 to 2009 Week 50; EBSCO CINAHL - 1982 to December 16 2009. No date or language restrictions were applied.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials which evaluated local interventions used to relieve venous leg ulcer pain were considered. Pain was defined as either persistent pain or pain at dressing changes or debridement. Ulcer healing and reported adverse events were also considered as further outcomes.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Eligibility for inclusion was confirmed by two review authors who independently assessed the potential trials.
MAIN RESULTS
Two trials evaluating interventions for persistent venous leg ulcer pain were identified for this review update. Both studies evaluated ibuprofen slow release foam dressings; one comparing it with local best practice and the other with an identical foam comparator. The primary end point for both studies was "pain relief achieved". When compared with a foam dressing alone, there was no evidence of a statistically significant effect of the ibuprofen foam dressing in terms of achieving some pain relief the first evening after treatment: 74% in the ibuprofen group (46/62) had pain relief compared with 58% (35/60) in the foam group (no significant difference: RR 1.27, 95%CI 0.98 to 1.65). In the second study 100% (32/32) of people with venous ulcers achieved some pain relief with the ibuprofen dressing on the first evening of treatment compared with 93% (26/28) in the local best practice group (no significant difference: RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.21). Pooling these studies in a meta-analysis (using a random effects model as significant heterogeneity present (p=0.1), I(2) = 64%) there is no evidence that ibuprofen dressings increase the pain relief experienced by the first evening of use (RR 1.15, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.44). We were not able to extract sufficient data to combine other pain outcomes from these trials. There was no difference in healing rates but slightly more adverse events with ibuprofen dressings than with a similar foam dressing without ibuprofen.Six trials evaluated interventions for the pain associated with debridement and were considered sufficiently similar to pool. There was a statistically significant reduction in debridement pain scores with 5% Eutectic Mixture of Local Anaesthetics (EMLA): lidocaine-prilocaine cream; the difference in means (measured on a 100 mm scale) was 20.6 mm (95% CI 12.19 to 29.11). Of these six trials, only one small trial measured healing as an outcome and found no difference in the numbers of ulcers healed at the end of the study.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
There is no evidence that ibuprofen dressings offer pain relief, as measured at the first evening of use, to people with painful venous leg ulcers compared with foam dressings or best practice.EMLA appears to provide effective pain relief for venous leg ulcer debridement but the effect (if any) of EMLA on ulcer healing remains unknown.
Topics: Administration, Topical; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Anesthetics, Local; Bandages; Debridement; Humans; Ibuprofen; Leg Ulcer; Lidocaine; Ointments; Pain; Prilocaine; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 20393931
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001177.pub2 -
Journal of Clinical Anesthesia Dec 2009To characterize the complications reported with intravenous regional anesthesia (IVRA). (Review)
Review
STUDY OBJECTIVE
To characterize the complications reported with intravenous regional anesthesia (IVRA).
DESIGN
Literature search.
SETTING
University-affiliated hospital.
MEASUREMENTS
A search was done in the American National Library of Medicine's PUBMED, EMBASE (1980-2007, wk 11), and Medline (from 1950) in March 2007. All complications associated with IVRA were reviewed.
MAIN RESULTS
The lowest dose of local anesthetic associated with a seizure was 1.4 mg/kg for lidocaine; 4 mg/kg for prilocaine, and 1.3 mg/kg for bupivacaine. Cardiac arrests and deaths were reported with lidocaine and bupivacaine only. The lowest dose associated with a cardiac arrest was 2.5 mg/kg for lidocaine and 1.6 mg/kg for bupivacaine. Local anesthetic toxicity occurring during tourniquet inflation has been reported, with tourniquet pressure exceeding initial systolic arterial blood pressure by 150 mmHg. Seizures occurring after tourniquet deflation have been reported with a tourniquet time as long as 60 minutes. Ten cases of compartment syndrome are reported.
CONCLUSION
Seizures have been reported with lidocaine at its lowest effective dose (1.5 mg/kg).
Topics: Anesthesia, Conduction; Anesthesia, Intravenous; Anesthetics, Local; Bupivacaine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Lidocaine; Prilocaine; Seizures
PubMed: 20122591
DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2009.01.015 -
Vaccine Feb 2010To evaluate the effectiveness of different pain-relieving interventions to reduce pain from immunization in adults. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of different pain-relieving interventions to reduce pain from immunization in adults.
DATA SOURCES
MEDLINE (1950 to October Week 3 2008) PsycINFO (1967 to December Week 1 2008), CINAHL (1982 to October Week 4 2008), EMBASE (1980 to 2008 Week 43) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (3rd Quarter 2008).
REVIEW METHODS
Databases were searched for trials of pharmacological, behavioural, physical or operator-dependant techniques to reduce pain from immunization in adults. The primary outcome was pain as assessed by visual analogue scale or other numeric rating scale.
RESULTS
Six studies representing 853 participants were identified. One study evaluating pharmacological interventions (lidocaine-prilocaine) found them to be effective in reducing pain from immunization. Similarly, two studies evaluating physical pain relieving techniques, either skin cooling interventions (Fluori-Methane) or tactile stimulation (manual pressure at the site of injection) found them to reduce pain. One study of jet injectors found them to be more painful than conventional needle and syringe. Neither freezing needles nor warming vaccines was found to be effective in reducing pain. No studies investigated psychological interventions or oral analgesics (acetaminophen and ibuprofen).
CONCLUSION
There was limited evidence to support the use of lidocaine-prilocaine, Fluori-Methane and manual pressure for reducing immunization pain in adults. There was limited evidence of more pain with jet injectors compared to needle and syringe. Due to limited data, we recommend further investigation of methods to reduce immunization pain in adults, primarily psychological and physical techniques.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Immunization; Injections; Pain; Vaccines
PubMed: 20003927
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.11.065 -
BMJ Clinical Evidence Jan 2009Preterm or ill neonates may undergo 1-21 heel punctures or venepunctures per day. These punctures are likely to be painful. Heel punctures comprise 61-87% and... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Preterm or ill neonates may undergo 1-21 heel punctures or venepunctures per day. These punctures are likely to be painful. Heel punctures comprise 61-87% and venepunctures comprise 8-13% of the invasive procedures performed on ill infants. Analgesics are rarely given specifically for blood sampling procedures, but 5-19% of infants receive analgesia for other indications.
METHODS AND OUTCOMES
We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical question: What are the effects of interventions to reduce pain-related distress and morbidity during venepuncture in preterm or term babies aged under 12 months in a neonatal unit? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to July 2007 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically, please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
RESULTS
We found 16 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: oral sweet solutions, pacifiers, and topical anaesthetics (lidocaine-prilocaine cream, tetracaine).
Topics: Administration, Oral; Analgesics; Blood Specimen Collection; Double-Blind Method; Humans; Infant; Pain; Pain Measurement; Phlebotomy; Punctures; Tetracaine
PubMed: 19445777
DOI: No ID Found -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Apr 2009Spinal anaesthesia has been in use since 1898. During the last decade there has been an increase in the number of reports implicating lidocaine as a possible cause of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Spinal anaesthesia has been in use since 1898. During the last decade there has been an increase in the number of reports implicating lidocaine as a possible cause of temporary and permanent neurologic complications after spinal anaesthesia. Follow up of patients who received uncomplicated spinal anaesthesia revealed that some of them developed pain in the lower extremities after an initial full recovery. This painful condition that occurs in the immediate postoperative period was named 'transient neurologic symptoms' (TNS).
OBJECTIVES
To study the frequency of TNS and neurologic complications after spinal anaesthesia with lidocaine compared to other local anaesthetics.
SEARCH STRATEGY
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials Register (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library, Issue 4, 2008); MEDLINE (1966 to August 2008); EMBASE (1980 to week 35, 2008); LILACS (August 2008); and handsearched the reference lists of trials and review articles.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included all randomized and quasi-randomized studies comparing the frequency of TNS and neurologic complications after spinal anaesthesia with lidocaine as compared to other local anaesthetics.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two authors independently evaluated the quality of the relevant studies and extracted the data from the included studies.
MAIN RESULTS
Sixteen trials reporting on 1467 patients, 125 of whom developed TNS, were included in the analysis. The use of lidocaine for spinal anaesthesia increased the risk of developing TNS. There was no evidence that this painful condition was associated with any neurologic pathology; the symptoms disappeared spontaneously by the fifth postoperative day. The relative risk (RR) for developing TNS after spinal anaesthesia with lidocaine as compared to other local anaesthetics (bupivacaine, prilocaine, procaine, levobupivacaine, ropivacaine, and 2-chloroprocaine) was 7.31 (95% confidence interval (CI) 4.16 to 12.86). Mepivacaine was found to give similar results as lidocaine and was therefor omitted from the overall comparison to diminish the heterogeneity.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
The risk of developing TNS after spinal anaesthesia with lidocaine was significantly higher than when bupivacaine, prilocaine, or procaine were used. The term 'transient neurological symptoms' implies neurologic pathology. Failing identification of the pathogenesis of TNS, consideration should be given to choosing a neutral descriptive term which does not imply a particular causation. One study about the impact of TNS on patient satisfaction and functional impairment demonstrated that non-TNS patients were more satisfied and had less functional impairment after surgery than TNS patients, but this did not influence their willingness to recommend spinal anaesthesia.
Topics: Anesthesia, Spinal; Anesthetics, Local; Humans; Leg; Lidocaine; Pain; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 19370578
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003006.pub3 -
Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2008Clonidine is added to intrathecal local anesthetics to improve intraoperative analgesia and to increase the duration of sensory and motor block. The aim of this... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Clonidine is added to intrathecal local anesthetics to improve intraoperative analgesia and to increase the duration of sensory and motor block. The aim of this systematic review is to quantify beneficial and harmful effects of clonidine when used as an adjuvant to intrathecal local anesthetics for surgery.
METHODS
We included data from 22 randomized trials (1,445 patients) testing a large variety of doses of clonidine, added to intrathecal bupivacaine, mepivacaine, prilocaine, or tetracaine.
RESULTS
Clonidine 15 to 150 microg prolonged in a linear, dose-dependent manner, the time to 2 segment regression (range of means, 14 to 75 minutes) and the time to regression to L2 (range of means, 11 to 128 minutes). The time to first analgesic request (median 101 minutes, range 35 to 310) and of motor block (median 47 minutes, range 6 to 131) was prolonged without evidence of dose-responsiveness. Time to achieve complete sensory or motor block, and extent of cephalic spread remained unchanged. There were fewer episodes of intraoperative pain with clonidine (relative risk, 0.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.09-0.64; number needed to treat, 13) but more episodes of arterial hypotension (relative risk, 1.81; 95% CI 1.44-2.28; number needed to harm, 8) without evidence of dose-responsiveness. The risk of bradycardia was unchanged.
CONCLUSIONS
This study may serve as a rational basis to help clinicians decide whether or not to combine clonidine with an intrathecal local anesthetic for surgery. The optimal dose of clonidine, however, remains unknown.
Topics: Adjuvants, Anesthesia; Analgesics; Anesthesia, Spinal; Anesthetics, Local; Bupivacaine; Clonidine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Injections, Spinal; Intraoperative Care; Mepivacaine; Prilocaine; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Tetracaine; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 18299097
DOI: 10.1016/j.rapm.2007.10.008 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jul 2006Children often experience pain from needle insertion procedures; therefore, several topical anaesthetics have been developed. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Children often experience pain from needle insertion procedures; therefore, several topical anaesthetics have been developed.
OBJECTIVES
To compare the topical anaesthetics amethocaine and an eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics (EMLA) in terms of anaesthetic efficacy, ease of needle insertion and adverse events when used for intravenous cannulation and venipuncture in children.
SEARCH STRATEGY
An exhaustive search that included over 30 databases and handsearching reference lists and journals. Language restrictions were not imposed.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomized controlled trials were selected that compared EMLA and amethocaine for relieving children's pain from intravenous cannulation or venipuncture.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently determined eligibility for inclusion by assessing trial quality. Details of eligible studies were summarized. One author was contacted for additional information. Information about adverse events was obtained from the text of the trial reports. Review Manager 4.2 was used to perform a meta-analysis and compute relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals.
MAIN RESULTS
Six trials consisting of 534 children, three months to 15 years of age, were included in this review. A meta-analysis was done comparing amethocaine with EMLA on anaesthetic efficacy, ease of needle procedure and resultant skin changes. For anaesthetic efficacy, amethocaine significantly reduced the risk of pain compared to EMLA when all pain data were combined into a common pain metric (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.98); when pain was self-reported by children (RR 0.63, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.87); or when pain was observed by researchers (sensitivity analysis: RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.96). Compared to EMLA, amethocaine significantly reduced the risk of pain when drugs were applied for the following durations: for 30 to 60 minutes (RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.91); when applied according to manufacturer's instructions (sensitivity analysis: RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.89); and when applied for over 60 minutes (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.96). Amethocaine was also significantly more efficacious than EMLA when used specifically for intravenous cannulation (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.88). Insufficient data were available to compare anaesthetic efficacy for venipuncture.A comparison of amethocaine and EMLA for ease of a needle procedure was not significant; only one trial reported data that could be included. For skin changes, EMLA was favoured in the analysis of erythema (RR 14.83, 95% CI 2.28 to 96.36). Erythema was observed after use of amethocaine whereas blanching was observed after using EMLA. Adverse effects included itching and one case of conjunctival irritation.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Although EMLA is an effective topical anaesthetic for children, amethocaine is superior in preventing pain associated with needle procedures.
Topics: Adolescent; Anesthetics, Local; Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Infant; Lidocaine; Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; Pain; Prilocaine; Punctures; Tetracaine
PubMed: 16856039
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004236.pub2