Medline ® Abstract for Reference 81
of 'Nonpharmacologic approaches to management of labor pain'
81
TI
Subcutaneous versus intracutaneous injections of sterile water for labour analgesia: a comparison of perceived pain during administration.
AU
Mårtensson L, Nyberg K, Wallin G
SO
BJOG. 2000;107(10):1248.
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate whether, during injections of sterile water, there is any difference in perceived pain between intracutaneous and subcutaneous injections.
DESIGN:
Blind controlled trial with cross-over design.
SETTING:
Göteborg and Skövde, Sweden.
PARTICIPANTS:
One hundred healthy female volunteers.
METHODS:
The women were randomised into two groups and subjected to two trials, within one week of each other. During the first trial one group (n = 50) received the intracutaneous injection first, followed by the subcutaneous injection. The second group (n = 50) was given the subcutaneous injection first, followed by intracutaneous injection. In both groups all the injections were given in reverse order during the second trial.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Experienced pain during the administration of sterile water injections, measured by visual analogue scale.
RESULTS:
The analysis showed intracutaneous injections to be significantly more painful than subcutaneous injections, even after adjusting for injection day and for left/right site of injection (mean 60.8 vs 41.3, P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS:
The findings suggest that the less painful subcutaneous injection technique should be used.
AD
Department of Health Sciences, University of Skövde, Sweden.
PMID