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 Printable version |
Lidocaine-prilocaine cream (EMLA Cream®) as a topical anaesthetic for the cleansing of leg ulcers. The effect of length of application time |
European Journal of Dermatology. Volume 8, Number 4, 245-7, June 1998, Thérapeutique
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 Free Article
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Author(s) : Rolf G. HOLST, Ann KRISTOFFERSON |
Summary : Pain prevents the effective cleansing of many leg ulcers. Pain relief during debridement has been reported after topical anaesthesia with EMLA® cream. The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the pain intensity during debridement after different lengths of application time of EMLA. Fifty-nine patients, stratified for leg ulcer type, were randomised to 10, 20 or 60 minutes treatment with EMLA prior to debridement. The pain was rated by each patient on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS). Pain intensity during debridement decreased significantly with increasing duration of EMLA application (p = 0.001). The median values of the VAS pain scores were 41, 20 and 8 in the 10-, 20- and 60- minute groups respectively. A minimum of 20 minutes application time gives substantial pain relief in the majority of patients. |
Keywords : application time, debridement, EMLA®, leg ulcer, pain, topical anaesthesia. |
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