An abbreviation for eutetic mixture of local anaesthetics. This is a cream that is applied to the skin to produce local anaesthesia (see anaesthesia, local). is used to reduce discomfort before intravenous injection and venepuncture, particularly in children, and in skin grafting.
This is a proprietary brand of topical cream (the abbreviation stands for Eutectic Mixture of Local Anaesthetics). EMLA has revolutionised the care of children in hospital in the last decade by allowing blood-taking, lumbar puncture and other invasive procedures to be conducted relatively painlessly. It is applied to the skin and covered. After one hour the skin is anaesthetised.
a cream containing a eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics (*lidocaine and *prilocaine; hence the name). Applied to the skin as a thick coating and left on for a maximum of 90 minutes, it gives a helpful degree of local anaesthesia, allowing blood samples to be taken and facilitating biopsy procedures in young children.... emla cream
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