Efficacy of lactase-treated milk for lactose-intolerant pediatric patients.

In our study, the beneficial effects of locally applied nitroglycerine on the ease of cannulation were confined to children younger than 1 year, whereas no significant benefit was found in older children. On the other hand, no significant difference in venous status was apparent, even in younger patients. The lack of efficacy of nitroglYcerine in group 3 patients indicates local action of this drug rather than systemic effect. Greater ease of cannulation may result from diminished venous reactivity to puncture, induced b y t h e local antispastic vascular action of nitroglycerine. Nitroglycerine may be more effective in younger children, because they have smaller and more reactive veins than do older patients. These results may also be related to a larger dose per unit of body weight or to thinner skin with more rapid absorption in th e younger patient s . In any case, the Usual ease of venous cannulation in older Children reduces the need for nitroglycerine. We conclude that local application of nitroglycerine ointment is an efficient way of reducing failure in venous cannulation in infants; this technique appears to be simple and innocuous.