Comparison of Ice and Lidocaine- Prilocaine Cream Mixture in the Reduction of Pain During Peripheral Intravenous Cannulation in Emergency Department Patients

Objective: We aimed to compare the efficacies of ice, lidocaine- prilocaine mixture cream and the classical method in reduction of the pain observed during intravenous cannulation, which is the most frequently performed procedure in emergency departments and to define the most effective method. Material and Methods: One hundred-twenty patients who applied to the emergency department of Uludag University Faculty of Medicine were included in this presented study. Cannulations were performed after one minute application of ice package in the ice group. Patients who applied to emergency only for blood transfusion were chosen for the lidocaine-prilocaine group and their cannulations were performed at the 60 th minute of cream mixture application. Finally, no applications before cannulation were used for the control group. All cannulations were performed from antecubital region and 18 G cannula were used. Visual analog scale (VAS) and patient satisfaction were scored. Results: VAS scores for ice, lidocaine-prilocaine and control groups are 2.8±1.7, 4.1±1.8, 4.4±1.9, respectively. VAS score in the ice group was significantly lower than both lidocaine- prilocaine and control groups. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference between lidocaine- prilocaine and control groups. Conclusion: Ice application method before intravenous cannulation, in addition to its advantages such as being inexpensive, easy to obtain and apply, is more effective than lidocaine- prilocaine cream. (JAEM 2013; 12: 27-9)