Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Topical Emla Cream as Local Anaesthetic in Venepuncture

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The efficacy of a topical anaesthetic formulation, EMLA 5% cream (Eutectic Mixture of Local Anaesthetics) in obtunding the pain produced by intravenous cannulation was determined in our study. This study aims at evaluating the efficacy of EMLA cream in producing dermal analgesia for venous cannulation and the effect of timing of application of EMLA cream prior to cannulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Amongst 60 patients, EMLA cream was applied for 60 minutes in 20 patients, 30 minutes in another 20 and in the remaining 20 no cream or placebo was applied. RESULTS Pain was assessed in all the groups by a 4-point rank score. It was found that patients with EMLA cream had lower pain scores and decreased haemodynamic stress response to venous cannulation when compared to the control group. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION Maximum analgesia was observed in patients who had EMLA cream applied for 60 minutes. No significant side effects were seen with this formulation.