Assessment of the effect of EMLA (R) during venipuncture in the newborn byanalysis of heart rate variability

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of EMLA on the pa in response when venipuncture was performed in 60 3-day-old healthy newborn s. EMLA/placebo was applied to the back of the baby's hand, following a ran domized, double-blind procedure. ECG and crying were recorded during the te st. The incidence of crying, heart rate (HR) and spectral analysis of heart rate variability were used to characterize the reaction of the baby to the venipuncture procedure. The occurrence of crying during venipuncture did n ot differ significantly between the EMLA(R) and the placebo groups. The pla cebo-treated group showed a statistically significant higher HR, and a decr ease in variance (total power) and power in the low-frequency band (0.02-0. 15 Hz) when compared with the EMLA group. We conclude that EMLA decreases t he stress response during venipuncture in newborn infants. (C) 2000 Interna tional Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.