Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP
-
J Dev Behav Pediatr · Aug 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialManagement of pain from heel lance with lidocaine-prilocaine (EMLA) cream: is it safe and efficacious in preterm infants?
Hospitalized preterm infants undergo multiple painful heel lances. A two-phase, randomized, controlled trial was undertaken to determine the safety and efficacy of lidocaine-prilocaine 5% cream (EMLA, Astra Pharmaceuticals, L. P, Westborough, MA) for relieving pain from heel lance. ⋯ The mean methemoglobin concentration was 1.19% (.47). Approximately 10% of infants had minor skin reactions, and approximately 20% of EMLA-treated infants had blanching at the application site. The authors conclude that EMLA is safe but not efficacious for relieving pain from heel lance in preterm infants.