The effectiveness of ice as a topical anesthetic for the insertion of intravenous catheters

Citation
Pb. Richman et al., The effectiveness of ice as a topical anesthetic for the insertion of intravenous catheters, AM J EMER M, 17(3), 1999, pp. 255-257
Citations number
24
Categorie Soggetti
Aneshtesia & Intensive Care
Journal title
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE
ISSN journal
07356757 → ACNP
Volume
17
Issue
3
Year of publication
1999
Pages
255 - 257
Database
ISI
SICI code
0735-6757(199905)17:3<255:TEOIAA>2.0.ZU;2-9
Abstract
In a paired clinical trial, the effectiveness of ice in reducing the pain o f intravenous catheter placement was assessed in 28 adult volunteers. An ic e pack was placed over one arm for 10 minutes, followed by insertion of an 18-gauge angiocatheter in both arms. Patients recorded their pain assessmen t after each venipuncture on a previously validated 100 mm visual analog sc ale (VAS) and identified their preferred method for the procedure (pretreat ment with ice or no pretreatment), The mean pain score for catheter placeme nt an arms pretreated with ice was 27.5 +/- 15.9 mm; the mean pain scare fo r the control arms was 34.2 +/- 21.6 mm (P = .17). Most patients (61%) pref erred no pretreatment (P = .014), Although most men (75%) preferred no pret reatment, 75% of women preferred pretreatment with ice (P = .014), Future s tudies should examine whether ice is effective at reducing pain from other more painful procedures and whether the response to ice is gender related. Copyright (C) 1999 by W.B. Saunders Company.