Placebo effect of eutectic mixture of lidocaine and prilocaine (EMLA) cream in reducing venepuncture pain in children. 1994

A Lurngnateetape, and T Tritrakarn
Department of Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.

A randomized double-blind study was made of 60 children aged 5 to 11 years to assess the efficacy of a eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics (EMLA), lidocaine and prilocaine, and placebo cream in reducing venepuncture pain. The 5% EMLA or placebo cream, approximately 2 grams (2 ml), was applied to the anticipated venepuncture site and covered with an occlusive dressing for a least 60 minutes. The venepuncture of 20-gauge butterfly needle was done after wiping the skin dry and observing for any local reactions. The pain was evaluated by three methods, one by the investigator and the other two by the children. The results showed that there were no statistical differences in the subject characteristics and pain scores, between the EMLA and the placebo group. Most children in both groups experienced no pain to mild pain from venepuncture. The possible causes were discussed and it was concluded that the placebo effect of having cream and good doctor-children rapport reduced fear and anxiety, resulting in the reduction of venepuncture pain in children.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008012 Lidocaine A local anesthetic and cardiac depressant used as an antiarrhythmia agent. Its actions are more intense and its effects more prolonged than those of PROCAINE but its duration of action is shorter than that of BUPIVACAINE or PRILOCAINE. Lignocaine,2-(Diethylamino)-N-(2,6-Dimethylphenyl)Acetamide,2-2EtN-2MePhAcN,Dalcaine,Lidocaine Carbonate,Lidocaine Carbonate (2:1),Lidocaine Hydrocarbonate,Lidocaine Hydrochloride,Lidocaine Monoacetate,Lidocaine Monohydrochloride,Lidocaine Monohydrochloride, Monohydrate,Lidocaine Sulfate (1:1),Octocaine,Xylesthesin,Xylocaine,Xylocitin,Xyloneural
D008297 Male Males
D009779 Occlusive Dressings Material, usually gauze or absorbent cotton, used to cover and protect wounds, to seal them from contact with air or bacteria. (From Dorland, 27th ed) Bandages, Occlusive,Dressings, Occlusive,Dressings, Spray-On,Bandage, Occlusive,Dressing, Occlusive,Dressing, Spray-On,Dressings, Spray On,Occlusive Bandage,Occlusive Bandages,Occlusive Dressing,Spray-On Dressing,Spray-On Dressings
D009824 Ointments Semisolid preparations used topically for protective emollient effects or as a vehicle for local administration of medications. Ointment bases are various mixtures of fats, waxes, animal and plant oils and solid and liquid hydrocarbons. Ointment,Paste,Pastes,Salve,Unguent,Salves,Skin Ointment,Unguents,Ointment, Skin
D010146 Pain An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by NERVE ENDINGS of NOCICEPTIVE NEURONS. Suffering, Physical,Ache,Pain, Burning,Pain, Crushing,Pain, Migratory,Pain, Radiating,Pain, Splitting,Aches,Burning Pain,Burning Pains,Crushing Pain,Crushing Pains,Migratory Pain,Migratory Pains,Pains, Burning,Pains, Crushing,Pains, Migratory,Pains, Radiating,Pains, Splitting,Physical Suffering,Physical Sufferings,Radiating Pain,Radiating Pains,Splitting Pain,Splitting Pains,Sufferings, Physical
D010147 Pain Measurement Scales, questionnaires, tests, and other methods used to assess pain severity and duration in patients or experimental animals to aid in diagnosis, therapy, and physiological studies. Analgesia Tests,Analogue Pain Scale,Formalin Test,McGill Pain Questionnaire,Nociception Tests,Pain Assessment,Pain Intensity,Pain Severity,Tourniquet Pain Test,Visual Analogue Pain Scale,Analog Pain Scale,Assessment, Pain,McGill Pain Scale,Visual Analog Pain Scale,Analgesia Test,Analog Pain Scales,Analogue Pain Scales,Formalin Tests,Intensity, Pain,Measurement, Pain,Nociception Test,Pain Assessments,Pain Intensities,Pain Measurements,Pain Questionnaire, McGill,Pain Scale, Analog,Pain Scale, Analogue,Pain Scale, McGill,Pain Severities,Pain Test, Tourniquet,Questionnaire, McGill Pain,Scale, Analog Pain,Scale, Analogue Pain,Scale, McGill Pain,Severity, Pain,Test, Analgesia,Test, Formalin,Test, Nociception,Test, Tourniquet Pain,Tests, Nociception,Tourniquet Pain Tests
D010817 Physician-Patient Relations The interactions between physician and patient. Doctor-Patient Relations,Doctor Patient Relations,Physician Patient Relations,Physician Patient Relationship,Doctor Patient Relation,Doctor-Patient Relation,Physician Patient Relation,Physician Patient Relationships,Physician-Patient Relation,Relation, Doctor Patient,Relation, Doctor-Patient,Relation, Physician Patient,Relation, Physician-Patient,Relations, Doctor Patient,Relations, Doctor-Patient,Relations, Physician Patient,Relations, Physician-Patient,Relationship, Physician Patient,Relationships, Physician Patient
D010919 Placebos Any dummy medication or treatment. Although placebos originally were medicinal preparations having no specific pharmacological activity against a targeted condition, the concept has been extended to include treatments or procedures, especially those administered to control groups in clinical trials in order to provide baseline measurements for the experimental protocol. Sham Treatment
D011318 Prilocaine A local anesthetic that is similar pharmacologically to LIDOCAINE. Currently, it is used most often for infiltration anesthesia in dentistry. Propitocaine,Citanest,Citanest Octapressin,Prilocaine Hydrochloride,Xylonest
D001815 Bloodletting Puncture of a vein to draw blood for therapeutic purposes. Bloodletting therapy has been used in Talmudic and Indian medicine since the medieval time, and was still practiced widely in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its modern counterpart is PHLEBOTOMY.

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