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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2006 Jul;23(7):591-3.
doi: 10.1017/S0265021506000160. Epub 2006 Mar 1.

The effects of Valsalva manoeuvres on venepuncture pain

G Basaranoglu  1 , M Basaranoglu, V Erden, H Delatioglu, A F Pekel, L Saitoglu
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The effects of Valsalva manoeuvres on venepuncture pain

G Basaranoglu et al. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2006 Jul.

Abstract

Background and objective: Stimulating the vagus nerve reduces pain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a Valsalva manoeuvre, which stimulates the vagus nerve, on perception of pain during peripheral venous cannulation in adult patients.

Methods: This was a prospective randomized clinical trial. One hundred and ten patients scheduled for elective surgery were randomly divided into two groups. Half of the patients, Group A, underwent venepuncture during a Valsalva manoeuvre and the other half of the patients, Group B, underwent venepuncture without performing a Valsalva manoeuvre. Patients made a pain assessment using a 0-10 point numerical rating scale.

Results: The numerical rating scale score was 1.5+/-1.2 for Group A and 3.1+/-1.9 for Group B, the difference being statistically significant (P<0.0001).

Conclusions: On the basis of data from this study, the Valsalva manoeuvre may be of the value before venous cannulation as a simple and practical method to reduce pain from venous cannulation.

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