A comparison of propofol-LCT with propofol-LCT/MCT on pain of injection.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Propofol-Lipuro 1% is consisting of long-chain triglycerides (LCT) and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) that have been reported to reduce injection pain. OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence and intensity of injection pain with 1% Propofol-LCT with 1% Propofol-LCT/MCT in female populations for minor surgery under total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA). MATERIAL AND METHOD: One hundred and ten female patients were double-blind randomized into two groups. Group long-chain triglycerdes (L) received 1% propofol-LCT while group long-chain triglycerides/medium-chain triglycerides (L/M) received 1% propofol-LCT/MCT. All patients received no benzodiazepine premedication and fentanyl 1 microg/kg was given 3 minutes before propofol injection. The propofol 1 mg/kg was manually injected at 0.5 mL/sec. The verbal rating score (VRS 0-10) was recorded on pain of injection. VRS > 4 indicates a significant response to pain. RESULTS: There was a significantly greater incidence and intensity of injection pain in group L compared with group L/M (p < 0.001 and p = 0.013 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Propofol-LCT/MCT is superior to propofol-LCT on reducing pain of injection.