Abstract

This review aimed to assess the effectiveness of the eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics (EMLA) cream in the management of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) needle insertion pain in adult patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD) compared with other alternative interventions. The main search was conducted in November 2020 and updated in December 2021. In the search strategy, keywords and synonyms were used and multiple databases were searched with no date limitation to ensure a comprehensive search that would yield all studies relevant to the review and minimise location bias. A total of 209 studies were found in this search and filtered. After filtering through these studies, only five studies were finally included in the review. EMLA-cream was found to be effective in reducing AVF needle insertion pain among adult patients undergoing HD. Despite EMLA cream’s effectiveness in reducing HD needle insertion pain and its fewer side effects, the findings of the included studies should be interpreted with caution, as there are some limitations, and further research is required. Keywords: EMLA Cream; Pain; Dialysis; Arteriovenous Fistula.

Publication details

DOI
10.18295/squmj.10.2023.058
Journal
Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 24(1), 7-19
Publisher
Sultan Qaboos University
Open access
Gold open access
License
CC BY-ND 4.0

Cite this article

APA 7

Al Shahri, H., Al Salmi, I., Al Rajhi, W., & Shemshaki, H. (2025). Effectiveness of the Eutectic Mixture of Local Anaesthetics Cream in the Management of Arteriovenous Fistula Needle Insertion Pain in Patients Undergoing Haemodialysis. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 24(1), 7-19. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.10.2023.058

MLA 9

Al Shahri, Hamed, et al. "Effectiveness of the Eutectic Mixture of Local Anaesthetics Cream in the Management of Arteriovenous Fistula Needle Insertion Pain in Patients Undergoing Haemodialysis." Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 24, no. 1, 2025, pp. 7-19. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.10.2023.058.

Chicago (author–date)

Al Shahri, Hamed, Issa Al Salmi, Waleed Al Rajhi, and Hamidreza Shemshaki. 2025. "Effectiveness of the Eutectic Mixture of Local Anaesthetics Cream in the Management of Arteriovenous Fistula Needle Insertion Pain in Patients Undergoing Haemodialysis." Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal 24 (1): 7-19. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.10.2023.058.

Harvard

Al Shahri, H., Al Salmi, I., Al Rajhi, W. and Shemshaki, H. (2025) 'Effectiveness of the Eutectic Mixture of Local Anaesthetics Cream in the Management of Arteriovenous Fistula Needle Insertion Pain in Patients Undergoing Haemodialysis', Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 24(1), pp. 7-19. doi:10.18295/squmj.10.2023.058.

Vancouver

Al Shahri H, Al Salmi I, Al Rajhi W, Shemshaki H. Effectiveness of the Eutectic Mixture of Local Anaesthetics Cream in the Management of Arteriovenous Fistula Needle Insertion Pain in Patients Undergoing Haemodialysis. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal. 2025;24(1):7-19. doi:10.18295/squmj.10.2023.058

IEEE

H. Al Shahri, I. Al Salmi, W. Al Rajhi, and H. Shemshaki, "Effectiveness of the Eutectic Mixture of Local Anaesthetics Cream in the Management of Arteriovenous Fistula Needle Insertion Pain in Patients Undergoing Haemodialysis," Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 7-19, 2025, doi: 10.18295/squmj.10.2023.058.