Effectiveness of Tetracaine Gel for Pain Relief in Infants During Catheter Insertion
Author Information
Author(s): Brigitte Lemyre, Rebecca Sherlock, Debora Hogan, Isabelle Gaboury, Colline Blanchard, David Moher
Primary Institution: Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
Hypothesis
Does tetracaine 4% gel reduce procedural pain in very low birth weight infants during PICC insertion?
Conclusion
Tetracaine 4% was not effective in reducing procedural pain associated with PICC insertion in very small infants.
Supporting Evidence
- The mean PIPP score in the first minute was 10.88 in the treatment group compared to 11.74 in the placebo group.
- Median duration of crying was 181 seconds in the tetracaine group versus 68 seconds in the placebo group.
- No serious harms were observed during the study.
Takeaway
The study tested a gel to help babies feel less pain during a medical procedure, but it didn't work as hoped.
Methodology
Infants were randomly assigned to receive either tetracaine gel or placebo before PICC insertion, and pain was measured using the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP).
Limitations
The application time of tetracaine was only 30 minutes, which may have limited its effectiveness.
Participant Demographics
Infants greater than or equal to 24 weeks gestation, with a mean gestational age of 27 weeks.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.53
Confidence Interval
95% CI -1.86, 3.58
Statistical Significance
p = 0.53
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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