Intradermal Lidocaine or Bacteriostatic Normal Saline to Decrease Pain Before Intravenous Catheter Insertion: A Meta-Analysis

PurposeAnesthetics used to decrease pain during peripheral intravenous catheter insertion have been studied with equivocal results. This meta-analysis determined if lidocaine or bacteriostatic normal saline (BaNS) is more effective in reducing pain associated with peripheral intravenous catheter cannulation in adults.MethodsPubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, ProQuest Dissertation and Theses, and Web of Science databases were queried. Thirteen randomized controlled trials were analyzed.ResultsMean sample was 119.9 (±82.0); combined N was 1,559. Mean effect size was z = 0.46 (confidence interval = 0.24-0.68) indicating lidocaine was more effective than BaNS in providing pain relief (P < .001).ConclusionCost-benefit issues and lidocaine drug shortages must be considered when making definitive practice recommendations.