The Effect of Combined Oral and Topical Analgesics to Reduce Pain Perception During Electrodiagnostic Testing

• Status: Recruiting
• Trial end date: 2020-07-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Electromyography (EMG) is a useful test for diagnosis and monitoring of lower motor neuron disorders. It is mostly done in conjunction with a Nerve Conduction Study (NCS). Like other invasive medical procedures; electrodiagnostic tests have been known to cause iatrogenic pain for the patient, the intensity of which varies from person to person. Multiple modifiable as well as non-modifiable risk factors associated with EMG pain have been described in literature.Various approaches targeting different mechanisms of pain perception have been tested to make this procedure comfortable for the patients. These approaches range from simple distraction techniques to the use of topical and oral analgesics.Most of these studies have looked at adult population which has, supposedly, better pain tolerance as compared to children. Data on EMG associated pain in pediatric population is scant. This trial will assess the effect of combined oral and topical analgesics to reduce pain perception during NCS and EMG tests in the pediatric population.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan
• Treatments: Analgesics; Ibuprofen; Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pediatric patients (6 months to 18 years) referred for NCS / EMG testing to the neurophysiology lab at AKUH

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients not able to report pain scores on the scales used

• Patients using sedatives and prior analgesics within last 24 hours of study

• Patients with history of upper gastrointestinal tract bleed, renal disease, severe hepatic disease, glucose-6-phosphate deficiency, congenital or idiopathic methemoglobinemia

• Patients with known sensitivity / allergy to Ibuprofen or EMLA cream or their components

• Patients on class I antiarrhythmic drugs

• Patients with breach of skin on topical analgesic/placebo application sites

• Breastfeeding or sugary drink within one hour of start of study