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Lidocaine

Grade

Venepuncture Analgesia

Marginal Ear Vein

Pain response is often associated with venipuncture of the ear, which is reduced by topical application of a local anaesthetic cream containing 2.5% prilocaine and 2.5% lidocaine (Flecknell et al., 1990; Gardhouse and Sanchez, 2022; Keating et al., 2012; Miller et al., 2022).


  • 45 to 60 minutes before anticipated venipuncture, a commercial human cream (“EMLA Cream 5% (5g pack) - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc),” n.d.))  is applied over the venipuncture site and covered with an occlusive dressing or cling film (Carpenter, 2022; Plumb, 2024; Quesenberry, 2021; Varga-Smith, 2022)..

Therapeutics

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Evidence

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Venepuncture Analgesia 

  1. Flecknell, P.A., Liles, J.H., Williamson, H.A., 1990. The use of lignocaine-prilocaine local anaesthetic cream for pain-free venepuncture in laboratory animals. Lab Anim 24, 142–146. https://doi.org/10.1258/002367790780890121

  2. Gardhouse, S., Sanchez, A., 2022. Rabbit Sedation and Anesthesia. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice 25, 181–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvex.2021.08.012

  3. Keating, S.C.J., Thomas, A.A., Flecknell, P.A., Leach, M.C., 2012. Evaluation of EMLA Cream for Preventing Pain during Tattooing of Rabbits: Changes in Physiological, Behavioural and Facial Expression Responses. PLOS ONE 7, e44437. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0044437

  4. Miller, A.L., Clarkson, J.M., Quigley, C., Neville, V., Krall, C., Geijer-Simpson, A., Flecknell, P.A., Leach, M.C., 2022. Evaluating Pain and Analgesia Effectiveness Following Routine Castration in Rabbits Using Behavior and Facial Expressions. Front Vet Sci 9, 782486. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.782486

Supplementary Information

1 UK SPC Links

  1. EMLA Cream 5% (5g pack) - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc) [WWW Document], n.d. URL https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/871/smpc (accessed 2.11.24).

2 Additional Material Consulted

  1. Carpenter, J., 2022. Carpenter’s Exotic Animal Formulary - 6th Edition [WWW Document]. URL https://shop.elsevier.com/books/carpenters-exotic-animal-formulary/carpenter/978-0-323-83392-9 (accessed 2.11.24).

  2. Plumb, 2024. Lidocaine/Lidocaine Combinations, Topical [WWW Document]. URL https://app.plumbs.com/drug/3nKfkkEknXPROD?source=search&searchQuery=lidocaine (accessed 2.11.24).

  3. Quesenberry, K.E. (Ed.), 2021. Ferrets, rabbits, and rodents: clinical medicine and surgery, Fourth edition. ed. Elsevier, St. Louis, Missouri.

  4. Varga-Smith, M., 2022. Textbook of Rabbit Medicine - 9780702084034 | Elsevier Health [WWW Document]. Elsevier UK. URL https://www.uk.elsevierhealth.com/textbook-of-rabbit-medicine-9780702084034.html (accessed 1.23.24).

Monograph Details

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