PRILOCAINE LIDOCAINE PATCH AS A LOCAL PREMEDICATION FOR SKIN BIOPSY IN CHILDREN/

Background: Prilocaine-lidocaine emulsion (EMLA) has been used success fully as a local anesthetic in patients undergoing superficial procedu res. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the analg esic effect of the patch as a local anesthetic for children undergoing a skin biopsy procedure. The effect on both the pain at the injection site and the pain of the biopsy was investigated. Methods: The study was randomized, double blinded, and placebo controlled, Of the 63 chil dren randomly recruited into the study, 60 children were evaluated; th e remaining three were withdrawn from the study. Results: The anesthet ic patch was significantly more effective than the placebo patch in de creasing pain at the injection site, No significant difference in pain scores of the biopsy procedure was found between the study groups. No serious side effects were observed. Conclusion: The anesthetic patch reduced the pain experienced by children subjected to a skin biopsy pr ocedure.