Ethyl chloride spray, a local anesthetic in arterial blood gas sampling: A randomized, controlled, double-blinded study

Abstract

Aim: Arterial blood gas sampling provides useful information on respiratory parameters and acid-base balance. However, this procedure is painful and uncomfortable for the patient. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the analgesic efficacy of ethyl chloride spray compared to a placebo during radial artery blood gas sampling.

Method: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted at the emergency department of a tertiary hospital. A total of 202 patients were randomly divided into two groups: ethyl chloride spray (n = 101) and placebo (n = 101). The analgesic efficacy of ethyl chloride spray was compared with the placebo using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).

Results: The VAS score was determined to be 4 [interquartile range (IQR): 1.0] for the ethyl chloride spray group and 5 (IQR: 1.0) for the placebo group. The analgesic efficacy of ethyl chloride spray in reducing pain was statistically significantly higher compared to the placebo (p = 0.000).

Conclusion: Ethyl chloride spray has analgesic efficacy in arterial blood gas sampling. Therefore, the use of this spray provides an analgesic effect on patients during arterial blood gas sampling performed in the emergency department.

Keywords: Anesthesia; Arterial blood gas sampling; Ethyl chloride; Pain.