ABSTRACT
Introduction: Propofol is an anaesthetic drug which is given toinduce and maintain anaesthesia in adults undergoing surgery.This prospective, randomized, controlled study was designedto evaluate the efficacy of cisatracurium as a pretreatment drugin reducing incidence and severity of propofol injection pain.Material and methods: Patient undergoing generalanaesthesia were randomized in four groups of 25 patientseach. Group A received normal saline (control group), GroupB received Cisatracurium 0.05mg/kg IV, Group C receivedCisatracurium 0.1mg/kg IV, Group D received Cisatracurium0.15mg/kg IV. All drugs were administered into the largestdorsal vein of the hand with venous occlusion for 30 sec,followed by propofol (0.5mg/kg). Pain was evaluated usinga four point scale.Result: Cisatracurium 0.15mg/kg significantly lowers bothincidence and severity of propofol induced pain. Cisatracurium0.1mg/kg and cisatracurium 0.05mg/kg both significantlylower the severity of pain but not the incidence as comparedto control group.Conclusion: Cisatracurium is an effective drug in reducingpropofol induced pain. It reduces the incidence and severityboth of pain in 0.15mg/kg dose. Whereas only severityis decreased with 0.10 mg/kg and 0.05 mg/kg dose ofcisatracurium without any significant complications.