DOES A LOCAL-ANESTHETIC CREAM (EMLA) ALLEVIATE PAIN FROM HEEL-LANCINGIN NEONATES

EMLA cream is an effective local anaesthetic agent for venipunctures i n adults and children. The aim of this double-blind, randomised, and p lacebo-controlled study was to evaluate the effect of EMLA when heel-l ancing was performed in neonates. On their third day of life, fullterm healthy infants, who underwent testing for phenylketonuria (PKU) by h eel-lancing, were consecutively included in the study. One hundred and twelve neonates were allocated to eight groups according to the appli cation time of EMLA or placebo (10 to 120 minutes). Thus in each group seven infants received active substance and seven placebo. The respon se to the nociceptive stimulation was assessed by studying the occurre nce of a pain cry. No analgesic effect of EMLA was found. There were n o adverse effects.