EMLA Cream Effectively Relieves the Pain of Spinal Needle Insertion

Topical Anesthetics for Dermal Instrumentation: A Systematic Review of Randomized, Controlled Trials

“…34 The conclusions of the trials in this subgroup were also variable. Three authors found EMLA to be more efficacious than infiltrated local anesthesia, 23,24,33 whereas 2 trials showed the opposite result. 34,35 There is significant heterogeneity between the trials (c 2 test; P\.00001).…”

“…First, where possible we compared the efficacy of each topical anesthetic with infiltrated intradermal local anesthesia. Ten randomized, controlled trials 23,24,[28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] compared EMLA with infiltrated local anesthesia. The studies were not statistically combined because of significant heterogeneity.…”

“…In 1 article, 23 the SD was calculated from the 95% confidence interval (CI). In 3 studies, 22,24,25 EMLA was applied for various durations. We included data only from subject groups in which EMLA was administered for a mean duration of at least 45 minutes.…”

Brief report: A randomized controlled trial of Synera™ versus lidocaine for epidural needle insertion in labouring parturients

“…Eutectic mixture of local anesthetics was also successfully used for spinal needle insertions in women undergoing tubal ligations. 8 However, a study of women receiving labour epidurals found no difference in analgesia between EMLA and lidocaine infiltration. 4 Synera™, unlike EMLA, is simple and convenient to use, and has a potentially greater depth of penetration.…”

“…However, EMLA has been used as topical anesthesia for epidural and spinal needle insertion with mixed results. 3,4,8,9 Synera™ is simple and convenient to use and has a potentially greater depth of penetration. 10 We hypothesized that the analgesic effect of Synera™, for pain in labouring parturients, would be superior to traditional infiltration of epidural needle insertion with lidocaine.…”