Journal of the Royal Naval Medical Service
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Multicenter Study
The use of local anaesthesia in peripheral venous cannulation: current practice of junior doctors.
To determine the rate of use of local anaesthetic in peripheral venous cannulation by pre-registration house officers and to determine reasons why they do not use it. ⋯ Despite good clinical evidence that the pain of peripheral venous cannulation can be successfully obviated using local anaesthetic, the rate of use by pre-registration house officers is low. It is suggested that during formal cannulation training, more emphasis be placed on the provision of analgesia. This should aim to increase the quality of care to those patients requiring intravenous cannulation as well as offering other potential benefits to doctors.