Lidocaine iontophoresis versus eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA®) for IV placement in children

Pain during venipuncture is a major source of concern to children and their caretakers. Iontophoresis is a novel technique that uses an electrical current to facilitate movement of solute ions (lidocaine) across the stratum corneum barrier to provide dermal analgesia. In this study, we compared dermal analgesia provided by lidocaine iontophoresis and eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA(R)). After informed consent, 26 children, aged 7-16 yr, who required venous cannulation on multiple occasions, were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, crossover study to receive EMLA and iontophoresis on separate occasions. During a third session, each subject received his or her preferred treatment. Pain during venipuncture was assessed by the subject, parent, observer, and technician performing the procedure, by use of a 100-mm visual analog scale. The observer also used the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale to rate the subject's pain. Ratings of subject satisfaction were also assessed. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the subject-rated visual analog scale or the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale scores. Eleven (50%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 31%-69%) of the 22 subjects who completed both sessions preferred iontophoresis. Five subjects (23%; 95% CI, 10%-44%), including two who did not tolerate treatment with iontophoresis, preferred EMLA, and six (27%.; 95% CI, 13%-48%) had no preference for the intervention to provide dermal analgesia. We conclude that lidocaine iontophoresis provides similar pain relief for insertion of IV catheters as EMLA and is a useful noninvasive alternative to establish dermal analgesia for venous cannulation.