Comparison of analgesics in ameliorating the pain of circumcision.
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to compare two methods of pain control during neonatal circumcision: a sucrose-dipped pacifier and an analgesic cream (EMLA).


METHODS
This study was conducted in our well-baby nursery where 80 male infants were placed into one of four groups: control (water-dipped pacifier only), sucrose alone, EMLA alone, or sucrose and EMLA. Heart rate, oxygen saturation, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and crying time were measured as indicators of pain. The primary data analysis was a 2 x 2 factorial analysis of variance with repeated measures.


RESULTS
Physiologic and behavioral parameters indicated significantly (p < 0.05) decreased pain response in all treatment groups compared with that in the control group. The combination of sucrose and EMLA was most effective in reducing pain responses; sucrose alone was significantly less effective. There were no side effects of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Pain during neonatal circumcision can be optimally ameliorated by combined use of a sucrose-dipped pacifier and a local analgesic cream.
Mohan
C G
CG
Metro-Health Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Risucci
D A
DA
Casimir
M
M
Gulrajani-LaCorte
M
M
D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002944:Circumcision, Male; D003448:Crying / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011318:Prilocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013395:Sucrose
D000700:Analgesics; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D011318:Prilocaine; D013395:Sucrose; D008012:Lidocaine; D010100:Oxygen