The Effect of Cold Application to the Lateral Neck Region on Venous Cannulation Pain: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

Various ways have been tried to reduce cannulation pain. Methods such as local anesthetic injection to the intervention area, topical anesthetic use, ice application, and vibrating buzzi application were used to relieve the patient's pain and distract him. There are many different methods of stimulating the vagus nerve. The Valsalva maneuver is a mechanism that stimulates the Nervus Vagus (N. Vagus). Stimulation of the vagus nerve is thought to have an analgesic effect (2). Stimulation of the vagal nerve has an antinociceptive effect by triggering the baroreceptor reflex arc. It is thought that a P-like substance is released from the antinociceptive substance with the activation of the baroreceptor reflex arc. The regions where the N. Vagus is most superficial in the periphery are the inner auricle and the lateral neck region. It is also known that cold application to the lateral neck region stimulates the N. Vagus and reduces the heart rate (3). Applying cold to the neck area will have an antinociceptive effect by activating the baroreceptor reflex arc by stimulating the N. vagus. Patients between the ages of 18-70 who will be operated on electively (excluding those who will undergo oncological surgery and those who will undergo cesarean section) will be included in the study. These patients will be evaluated in the anesthesia polyclinic before the operation. Those with scars on the dorsum of the hand, operated on the dorsum of the hand, psoriasis, peripheral vascular disease, chronic analgesic use, opioid use, steroid use, gabapentin use, a history of substance abuse, peripheral neuropathy, oncological treatment, and limited cooperation patients will not be included in the study. The patients will be divided into 3 groups Group K, Group M, and Group S, with 53 people in each group. (The number of patients in the groups was calculated as α=0.05 and β=0.80 when power analysis was performed. The lottery method will be used for randomization.

Group K: Control group; 30 seconds (sec) will wait before the vascular access is opened, no additional action will be taken.

Group M: Cold application group; Just before the vascular access was opened, a marble plaque was placed on the carotid (2-3 cm above the clavicle, on the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) 2-3 cm above the clavicle) in the bilateral neck region, 4x5 cm in size, for 30 seconds.

Group S: Sham group; Before the vascular access is opened, a marble plaque of 4x5 cm with a polar sheath will be applied bilaterally to the neck area of the patients for 30 seconds.

After the patients are taken to the operating room and monitored, we will use the method suitable for the groups we determined by drawing lots. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and noninvasive blood pressure (NIBB) will be recorded before the intravenous line is opened.HR, RR, and NIBB values will be recorded after the application to the neck area. Then, an 18 gauge (green) intravenous cannula will be inserted at once by the same experienced practitioner on the back of the left hand, and patients will be asked to rate their pain levels between 0-10 according to Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), and this value will be recorded. HR, RR, and NIBB values will also be recorded. Patients who cannot be cannulated at once will be excluded from the study.