J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs.  1995 Jul;2(1):37-43.

A Comparison of Pain Reducing Effects of Topical EMLA Cream and Subcutaneous Lidocaine in Hemodialysis Patients

• Shin MO
• Park HJ
• Chang EJ
• Suh YH
• Heo MY
• Kim MK
• Choi ML
• Lee MJ
• Kim YJ

Abstract

This study was conducted to compare the severity of cannulation pain in hemodialysis patients after topical application of EMLA cream and local injection of lidocaine and evaluated side effects and problems accompanied by the former. Twenty patients, who were on hemodialysis from September 1 to October 15, 1994 at the Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College, were divided into two groups of ten. To conduct a cross over study, two groups were placed on four repeated methods with lidocaine followed by four repeated methods with EMLA cream and vice versa, respectively, while the severity of cannulation pain was being measured according to a Visual Analogue Scale with each methods. The results are follows : 1) The scale of pain was recorded as 4.56+/-1.38 and 2.05+/-1.36 points for methods with lidocaine and EMLA cream, respectively, indicating the less severe pain with EMLA cream. 2) Local side effects such as itching(4 cases, 5.0%) and pallor(5 cases, 6.3%) were observed with methods with EMLA cream but disappeared before the completion of hemodialysis. 3) Problems associated with local lidocaine were pain at the injection of anesthetic (27 cases, 16.9%) and fear for needle insertion (6 cases, 3.8%). The most frequent problems with EMLS cream application were an inconvenience in use (11 cases, 6.9%) and tedious long pretreatment time (11 cases, 6.9%), those associated with inconvenience in cream applying procedures. 4) Twelve out of twenty patients(60.0%) responded with yes to a continued use of EMLA cream in spite of problems with cream application and economical difficulties in purchasing. These results indicate that 5% EMLA cream used as a local anesthetic in hemodialysis significantly reduces cannulation pain and lacks side effects, thus serving as a suitable method for the alleviation of cannulation pain and inconvenience in hemodialysis and the relief of psychological stress of nurses.

MeSH Terms

Catheterization
Humans
Lidocaine*
Needles
Renal Dialysis*
Stress, Psychological
Lidocaine