Duration of venous occlusion with lidocaine for preventing propofol induced pain

ABSTRACT

To study the effect of the venous occlusion duration using lidocaine on the incidence and severity of propofol induced pain. A prospective double-blind randomized study was designed at Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan between October 2007 and November 2007. One hundred and fifty patients aged 14-70 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] clinical status I and II who underwent elective surgeries under general anesthesia, were divided into 3 groups. All 3 groups had propofol 1% infusion at a constant rate after applying venous occlusion with lidocaine. The occlusion was applied for 15 seconds [group I, n=50], 30 seconds [group II, n=50] and 60 seconds [group III, n=50]. Pain was assessed during injection according to a verbal pain score. Fourteen patients 28% had pain in group I, compared to 16 patients 32% in group II, and 9 patients 18% in group III. This difference did not reach statistical significance p>0.05 for the incidence and severity of pain. While venous occlusion with lidocaine is an effective method in relieving propofol induced pain, we found no difference when the duration of venous occlusion was 15, 30, or 60 seconds