Korean J Perinatol.  2011 Dec;22(4):303-309.

Effects of Topical Anesthetics to Reduce Pain in Preterm Infants During Percutaneous Cental Venous Catheterization (PCVC)

• Shin HJ
• Park IS
• Shin YJ
• Kim SY

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to prove the effects of topical anesthetics (EMLA) to control pain in preterm infants during invasive procedure (percutaneous central venous catheterization, PCVC).
METHODS
A total of 18 preterm infants of birth weight <2,000 g and gestational age <36 weeks born at EulJi University Hospital, at Daejeon in 2010 were randomly included in this study. EMLA was applied in nine preterm infants 40 minutes before starting PCVC and placebo was applied in another nine preterm infants. Based on PIPP (preterm infant pain profile), we evaluated their heart rate, oxygen saturation before, 15 seconds during and 30 seconds after procedure. Behavioral responses were also recorded for 2 minutes after procedure.
RESULTS
Experimental group showed significantly less behavioral response during procedure (P=0.005) and 2 min after procedure (P=0.001). Also, experimental group showed less increase in heart rate (P=0.033) and reduction of behavioral state (P=0.017).
CONCLUSION
Despite limitation of small size in this study, experimental group showed lower pain score compared with placebo control group during catheterization. In neonatal care unit (NICU), we recommend the use of topical anesthetics such as EMLA to control pain during invasive procedures.

Keyword

Preterm infants; Percutaneous central venous catheterization; EMLA; Pain

MeSH Terms

Anesthetics
Birth Weight
Catheterization
Catheterization, Central Venous
Catheters
Central Venous Catheters
Gestational Age
Heart Rate
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Lidocaine
Oxygen
Prilocaine
Anesthetics
Lidocaine
Oxygen
Prilocaine