The effectiveness of diclofenac gel and eutectic mixture of local anesthetic cream on vein puncture pain severity with vein catheter in patient undergoing cesarean section: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

• Published in: International journal of applied and basic medical research Vol. 4; no. 3; pp. 46 - 49
• Main Authors: Khalili, Sediqeh, Safavi, Mahboubeh, Rezaei, Rozita, Bidmeshki, Maria, Shirzad, Fatemeh, Nasiri, Mostafa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications Pvt Ltd 01.09.2014; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd
• Subjects: Analgesics; Anesthetics; Anxiety; Care and treatment; Cesarean section; Diclofenac; Dosage and administration; Fear & phobias; Methods; Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; Original; Pain; Pain management; Patients; Phlebotomy; Puncture; Sample size; Standard deviation; Studies; Veins; Veins & arteries; Iran; eutectic mixture of local anesthetic cream; Diclofenac gel; pain; vein puncture
• ISSN: 2229-516X; 2248-9606
• DOI: 10.4103/2229-516X.140739

Aim: This study was aimed to explore the effect of applying diclofenac gel and a eutectic mixture of local anesthetic (EMLA) cream on vein puncture pain severity with vein catheter in the patients undergoing cesarean section. Materials and Methods: The sample comprised 90 women undergoing elective cesarean section that referred to Imam Ali Hospital′s maternity section in Amol city (Northern Iran). Data collection tools included visual analog scale for pain severity and a checklist for short term possible side-effects of diclofenac gel, EMLA cream and Vaseline ointment as placebo. Results: The pain of vein puncture with diclofenac gel and EMLA cream was significantly lower than that with the Vaseline ointment (P = 0.001). Similarly, there was a significant difference between using diclofenac gel and EMLA cream in catheter insertion pain severity (P = 0.006). In addition, there was no short term possible side-effect with using diclofenac gel and Vaseline ointment, but a short term side-effect (blanching) was detected in 20% of subjects with EMLA cream. Conclusion: Compared to Vaseline cream, EMLA cream and diclofenac gel application significantly reduces the pain severity associated with vein catheter insertion. Use of diclofenac gel is preferred compared with EMLA cream, because of economics, more efficiency purpose, and no side-effects.