title: 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.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran and Shohada Hospital, Mahmod Abad, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Sediqeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khalili
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medicine Branch, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahboubeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Safavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Rozita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rezaei
authors.affiliation: Shohada Hospital, Mahmood Abad, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bidmeshki
authors.affiliation: Shohada Hospital, Mahmood Abad, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shirzad
authors.affiliation: Computer Engineering, Tamin Ejtemai Amol, Mazandaran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasiri
keywords: Diclofenac gel; eutectic mixture of local anesthetic cream; pain; vein puncture