title: Analgesic effects of EMLA cream and oral sucrose during venipuncture in preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to compare the analgesic effect of sucrose with that of the combination of sucrose and the local anesthetic cream EMLA during venipuncture in preterm neonates.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized, double-blind prospective study included infants younger than 37 weeks' gestational age during 1 routine venipuncture for blood sampling. Each child randomly received either sucrose plus application of a placebo cream (S group) or sucrose plus EMLA cream (S+E group) before venipuncture. Venipuncture-induced pain was assessed through videotapes of the procedures by using the Douleur Aiguë Nouveau-né (DAN) behavioral scale. Pain was assessed at 2 phases: during venipuncture (from needle introduction to its removal) and during the recovery period (30 seconds after needle removal). Pain scores over time and between treatments were compared by using repeated-measures analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 76 children (37 in the S group, 39 in the S+E group). Mean (SD) DAN pain scores for the S group and the S+E group were 7.7 (2.1) and 6.4 (2.5), respectively, during venipuncture and 7.1 (2.8) and 5.7 (3.3) during the postinjection period. A significant time and treatment effect in favor of the S+E group was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of sucrose and EMLA cream revealed a higher analgesic effect than sucrose alone during venipuncture in these preterm infants.
authors.affiliation: Service de Néonatologie, Hôpital Armand Trousseau, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France. valerie.biran@rdb.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Biran
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gourrier
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cimerman
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Walter-Nicolet
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mitanchez
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carbajal
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004304:Dosage Forms; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011318:Prilocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013395:Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D004304:Dosage Forms; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D011318:Prilocaine; D013395:Sucrose; D008012:Lidocaine