Vapocoolant Spray Effectiveness On Arterial Puncture Pain: Randomized Double Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial

Topical Alkane Vapocoolant Spray Effectiveness On Arterial Puncture Pain Reduction In Emergency Department: Randomized Double Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial

This study was aimed to compare pain levels from arterial blood gas (ABG) sampling performed with vapocoolant spray in comparison to placebo.

Previous studies of vapocoolant sprays for reducing pain were mainly on venopuncture with inconsistent results. There was only one prospective open labeled controlled study on arterial blood gas sampling with ethyl chloride which did not show effectiveness. This study will assess the efficacy and tolerability of a topical alkane vapocoolant spray for arterial puncture in adults in comparison to control spray.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age of 14 years or older,
• needs ABG as a part of their diagnosis

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of analgesic medication used within 24 hours of enrollment,
• any sign of decreased consciousness,
• history of skin hypersensitivity,
• inability to report a pain score,
• history of a known neurological problem that changes pain perception,
• history of cold related reactions (e.g. Raynaud's phenomenon, cold urticaria),
• abnormal Allen's test