Minimising trauma with blood tests in children: No laughing matter.

Abstract

Blood tests can cause significant distress to children, particularly those with neurodevelopmental disorders or anxiety associated with regular procedures. Historically these patients would require an admission to our day procedure unit (Lagoon) for procedural sedation. Using nitrous oxide (N2O) sedation for venepuncture can minimise trauma and improve the likelihood of procedural success and reduces the need for patients to be admitted to a day unit for blood tests.