In adult patients venous cannulation, though painful, is often performed without analgesia. Numerous strategies are available to minimize the pain including local skin infiltration, ethyl chloride spray, inhalation of nitrous oxide, topical application of eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA) or application of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In this study we compare the efficacy of diclofenac and ketoprofen transdermal patch with placebo in attenuating intravenous cannulation pain

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... in patients posted for elective surgeries. 150 patients aged 18-55yrs of ASA I and II were selected and divide into groups of 50 each. In Group I (control) PTP-Placebo control patch, Group II KTP-ketoprofen transdermal patch and Group III DTP-diclofenac transdermal patch was applied 4 hrs before venous cannulation and VAS score was observed. Transdermal diclofenac and ketoprofen patch significantly decreased both the incidence and severity of pain associated with cannulation without any adverse effects. However ketoprofen patch fared better in reducing the severity of pain.