elamax (like emla)

[Susan Fullana]

We use elamax on adults and in the past a few pedi patients. I have used it for introducer placement and mst. If you leave it on for a long period (I like 1-1 1/2 hours myself) I find it works great. However, when I place with mst, I DO NOT use the scalpel. I use the microintroducer-I take it apart and use the inside first--- in and out a few times then, I put it back together and place the entire introducer in. Pts seem to tolerate this well. Would not even think of trying to use a scalpel with just elamax. Currently only myself and one other nurse (she has just started mst) are using mst to place PICCs. We are trying to get an ultrasound machine and a new position for u/s PICC placement. I worked per diem in another hospital where PICCs were only placed using MST and ultrasound and we always used lidocaine only---never elamax. Hope this helps.

Susan J. Fullana