Efficacy of Ametop Cream in Reducing Pain of Local Anesthetic Infiltration

The Efficacy of Topical Amethocaine Gel in Reducing the Pain of Local Anesthetic Infiltration Prior to Neuraxial Anesthesia in Non-labouring Pregnant Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Ametop is a numbing cream used to ease the pain of having blood drawn or an IV inserted. It is safe and virtually none enters the blood stream. It's effectiveness at reducing the pain of the freezing injection prior to epidural/ spinal anesthesia in pregnant women has not been studied.

We propose to randomize 70 women to have either the numbing cream or a similar looking moisturizing cream placed on their lower back before their anesthetic. They will rate the discomfort of the freezing injection allowing us to compare the two groups and determine if the numbing cream is effective.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Any pregnant subject undergoing an elective procedure under neuraxial anesthesia.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any contraindication to neuraxial anesthesia
• Subjects in labour