The primary objective is to compare the difference in the pain score in radial arterial puncture using the insulin needle versus the standard 23G hypodermic needle.
In a randomised, crossover design, healthy volunteers were recruited to receive bilateral radial arterial punctures. They were assigned to receive either the insulin or the standard needle as the first puncture using block randomisation. The primary outcome was the pain score measured on a 100mm visual analogue scale (VAS) and the secondary outcomes were procedural complications and rate of haemolysis.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
50
Arterial puncture using the hypodermic needle (BBraun Sterican® 23G and 25mm in length) attached to a 3 ml syringe.
Arterial puncture using the insulin syringe (Terumo®- 0.5 ml with attached needle 29G and 13mm in length)
National University Hospital
Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Visual analogue scale (VAS) score in millimetres
Immediately following the radial arterial punctures the outcome assessor asked the volunteer to assess the discomfort that was caused by the puncture. The volunteer was asked to place a slash on a 100 mm VAS sheet. The VAS showed "no pain" at 0 mm and "worst pain" at 100 mm.
Time frame: Immediately after each puncture ( average within 5 minutes)
blood haemolysis
The serum collected during the punctures was analysed for the amount of free haemoglobin. We define presence of haemolysis as free haemoglobin concentration of more than 100 mg/dL.
Time frame: Immediately after collection
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