Prilocaine/lidocaine patch as a local premedication for skin biopsy in children - 15/05/18

Doi : 10.1016/S0190-9622(18)30741-2

Flora B. de Waard-van der Spek, MD ^a,^⁎, Paul G.H. Mulder, PhD ^b, Arnold P. Oranje, MD, PhD ^a

^a Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

^b Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

^* Reprint requests: F. B. de Waard-van der Spek, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 60, 3015 GJ Rotterdam, The Netherlands Reprint requests: F. B. de Waard-van der Spek Department of Dermatology and Venereology University Hospital Rotterdam Dr. Molewaterplein 60 Rotterdam GJ 3015 The Netherlands

Background

Prilocaine-lidocaine emulsion (EMLA) has been used successfully as a local anesthetic in patients undergoing superficial procedures.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the analgesic 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 Of the 63 children randomly recruited into the study, 60 children were evaluated; the remaining three were withdrawn from the study.

Results

The anesthetic patch was significantly more effective than the placebo patch in decreasing 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.