The Effectiveness of Jet (Needle-Free) Injector to Provide Anesthesia in Child Circumcision under Local Anesthesia

Abstract

Objective: In our study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a needle-free (jet) injector in local anesthesia for circumcision. Materials and Methods: A total of 64 children were divided into two groups as jet injector group (n = 32) and conventional needle group (n = 32). Ring block was applied 6–8 times with a jet injector that sprayed each time 0.1 ml (2 mg) of lidocaine in jet injector group. In conventional needle group, ring block was applied with 2 mg/kg lidocaine injection. Using FLACC (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) pain scale, pain score during local anesthetic injection, anesthesia start time and pain score during circumcision were determined for both groups. Results: The mean age of the patients was 3.99 ± 1.41 years in jet injector group and 3.88 ± 1.33 years in conventional needle group. The mean FLACC pain score during the anesthesia procedure was 4.75 ± 0.25 in jet injector group, while it was 7.06 ± 0.24 in conventional needle group. FLACC pain scores were found to be significantly lower in jet injector group (p = 0.0001). During circumcision, the mean FLACC scores were 4.91 ± 0.29 and 2.31 ± 0.18 for jet injector group and conventional needle group, respectively. These FLACC pain scores were found to be significantly lower in conventional needle group (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: Our study showed that anesthesia using a jet injector can not provide sufficient analgesia so as to comfortably complete circumcision in pediatric circumcisions performed under local anesthesia. © 2020 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.