'Needle-free' delivery of local anesthesia: a valuable option in pediatrics.

Needleless injection or jet injection of medication has had a rather limited clinical use in children's healthcare beyond mass vaccinations. Medications injected into children with a needle-free system include local anesthetic agents, sedatives (midazolam), and anesthetic induction agents (ketamine). Reports suggest that local discomfort is often negligible and costs are often minimal. Risks associated with this simple and flexible technique are considered to be markedly less than alternative approaches, such as syringe and needle. Further investigations are needed to confirm initial reports and establish current and other uses of jet injectors in children.