Assessment of Pain on Propofol Injection.

Title: Assessment of pain on lidocaine-Propofol admixture injection: Comparing large antecubital vein and small vein dorsum of hand. * Objective: To evaluate the pain on Propofol - lidocaine admixture injection using different sizes of veins on upper limb. * Design: Prospective randomized clinical trial Place and duration of study: Department of Anesthesia, King Saud University Riyadh May 1, 2013 - May 31, 2014). * Patient and methods: Total 160 adult patients were divided in two groups. Age 20-50 years of either gender, American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) class 1 and 2, scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia were included in the study. Patients with known history of allergy to lidocaine or Propofol, obese patients, anticipated difficult intubation, already on any analgesics and pregnant patients were excluded from the study. Both groups received an admixture of Propofol (1%) - lidocaine (2%) on induction of anesthesia through antecubital vein (Group- 1) or through a vein on dorsum of hand (Group- 2). Pain was assessed as none, mild, moderate or severe. Results: Moderate to severe pain on intravenous injection of Propofol-lidocaine admixture through antecubital vein and small vein on dorsum of hand was 20% vs 71%. Conclusion: There is marked reduction of pain when Propofol - lidocaine admixture was injected through antecubital vein as compared to small vein on dorsum of hand. * Key words: Propofol, injection, pain