Less painful arterial blood gas sampling using jet injection of 2% lidocaine: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare pain levels from arterial blood gas (ABG) sampling performed with or without application of lidocaine via jet injector.


BACKGROUND
Pain is still a primary concern in the emergency department. Arterial blood gas sampling is a very painful procedure. No better technique for decreasing the pain of the ABG procedure has been presented. An ideal local anesthesia procedure for ABG sampling should be rapid, easily learned, inexpensive, and free of needlestick risk.


METHODS
We evaluated the effectiveness of a lidocaine jet injection technique in achieving satisfactory pain control in patients undergoing ABG sampling. Forty-two patients were randomized to 2 groups: group A, which received lidocaine by jet injection (0.2 mL of lidocaine 2%), and group B, a control group that received a topical application of 1 mL of lidocaine gel 2% 2 minutes before the ABG sampling. Pain was assessed on a 10-cm visual analog scale (0, absence of pain; 10, greatest imaginable pain).


RESULTS
The pain visual analog scale score during ABG sampling was considerably lower in group A compared with group B (1.29 ± 0.90 vs 4.19 ± 1.43; P < .001). The number of attempts required for ABG sampling was significantly lower in group A compared with group B (1.29 ± 0.46 vs 2.1 ± 0.12; P = .009). All residents reported ease of use with the lidocaine jet injection procedure (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Lidocaine jet injection provides beneficial and rapid anesthesia, resulting in less pain and a greater rate of successful ABG sampling. Therefore, it is recommended for use before ABG sampling to decrease the patient's pain and the number of unsuccessful attempts and to enhance the patient's satisfaction.
Emergency Medicine Department, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
Houman
H
Hajiseyedjavady
Morteza
M
Saeedi
Vahid
V
Eslami
Kavoos
K
Shahsavarinia
Shervin
S
Farahmand
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007277:Injections, Jet / Q000379:methods*; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D055815:Young Adult
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine