Placement of IV catheters is a painful and stressful procedure for children. J-Tip is a needle-less Food and Drug Administration approved injection system that can be used for delivery of local anesthetic before IV cannulation. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of J-Tip versus eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA) to facilitate IV cannulation and provide adequate analgesia before IV placement. Children 7-19 years of age (n = 116) were randomized to receive 0.25 mL of 1% buffered lidocaine with J-Tip (n = 57) or 2.5 g of EMLA (n = 59) before IV cannulation. Measurements of success of cannulation (number of attempts for IV placement) and pain (0-10 visual analog scale) at application of local anesthetic and at cannulation were performed. There was a significant (P = 0.0001) difference in pain ratings during IV cannulation between EMLA (median = 3) and the J-Tip (median = 0). Eighty-four percent of patients reported no pain at the time of J-Tip lidocaine application compared to 61% in the EMLA group at the time of dressing removal (P = 0.004). We did not find differences in the number of attempts for IV cannulation. J-Tip application of 1% buffered lidocaine before IV cannulation is not painful and has better anesthetic effectiveness compared with EMLA.

The stereo-isomer-specific clearance of ketorolac in infants and toddlers (aged 6-18 mo) shows rapid elimination of the analgesic S(-) isomer. No adverse effects on surgical drain output, oximetry measured saturations, renal or hepatic function tests were seen. Simulation of single dosing at 0.5 or 1 mg/kg every 4 or 6 h does not lead to accumulation of S(-) ketorolac, the analgesic isomer, but does result in increases in R(+) ketorolac. Shorter dose intervals may be needed in infants older than 6 mo.

Objective-We determined the postoperative pharmacokinetics (PK), safety and analgesic effects of ketorolac in 14 infants (aged <6 months) receiving a single intravenous (IV) administration of racemic ketorolac or placebo.Background-Information on the PK of ketorolac in infants is limited. Unblinded studies suggest ketorolac may be useful in infants.