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AMBULATORY ANESTHESIA

The Efficacy of 5% Lidocaine-Prilocaine (EMLA) Cream on Pain During Intravenous Injection of Propofol

Department of Anesthesia, Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, United Kingdom

Address correspondence and reprint requests to A. McCluskey, Department of Anesthesia, Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, SK2 7JE, United Kingdom. Address e-mail to amccluskey{at}mcmail.com

Topical anesthesia using 60% lidocaine tape reduces the incidence of propofol injection pain. We conducted a randomized prospective double-blinded placebo-controlled study to assess the analgesic efficacy of pretreatment with topical 5% lidocaine-prilocaine (EMLA) cream in 90 ASA physical status I and II adult patients scheduled to undergo day-case gynecological surgery. Propofol injection pain was not reduced by pretreatment with EMLA cream, whereas the addition of lidocaine to propofol did significantly reduce propofol injection pain compared with the control group (P = 0.002). We conclude that topical anesthesia with EMLA cream applied for 60 min does not significantly reduce propofol injection pain.

IMPLICATIONS: Topical local anesthesia with 60% lidocaine tape reduces the incidence of propofol injection pain. However, we found no reduction after pretreatment with topical 5% lidocaine-prilocaine (EMLA) cream.

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