Lidocaine-prilocaine cream versus tetracaine gel for procedural pain in children.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the relative efficacy of lidocaine-prilocaine and tetracaine for procedural pain in children.

METHODS:

Systematic review was performed (MEDLINE1990-June 2001) of all studies comparing the efficacy of these 2 modalities of pain relief in children undergoing painful cutaneous procedures. Search terms included lidocaine, prilocaine, tetracaine, and anesthesia.

RESULTS:

Eight studies compared lidocaine-prilocaine with tetracaine in children for 4 different procedures: intravenous cannulation, venipuncture, Port-a-Cath puncture, and laser therapy. When used as labeled (60 min for lidocaine-prilocaine, 30 min for tetracaine), the 2 modalities provided similar analgesic efficacy. When both anesthetics were applied for a similar duration of time (40 min, 60 min, 2 h), tetracaine provided superior anesthesia. Tetracaine was commonly associated with erythema, and lidocaine-prilocaine was associated with blanching of the skin.

CONCLUSIONS:

Lidocaine-prilocaine and tetracaine appear to be comparable for procedural pain relief when used as recommended. Tetracaine is more efficacious than lidocaine-prilocaine when both anesthetics are applied for the same amount of time.

• Authors: Anna Taddio, Mona G Y Gurguis, Gideon Koren
• Journal: The Annals of pharmacotherapy (Ann Pharmacother) Vol. 36 Issue 4 Pg. 687-92 (Apr 2002) ISSN: 1060-0280 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11918521 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review, Systematic Review)

Chemical References

• Anesthetics, Local
• Gels
• Ointments
• Prilocaine
• Tetracaine
• Lidocaine

Topics

• Administration, Topical
• Adolescent
• Anesthetics, Local (therapeutic use)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Gels
• Humans
• Infant
• Lidocaine (therapeutic use)
• MEDLINE
• Ointments
• Pain (prevention & control)
• Prilocaine (therapeutic use)
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Tetracaine (therapeutic use)