Pain on injection of propofol: the effect of granisetron pretreatment.

Abstract

To assess the effect of granisetron pretreatment in alleviating propofol injection pain. A randomized, controlled, double-blind study, using venous retention with a tourniquet. One hundred fifty adult patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: group 1 (who received 5 mL of 0.9% saline pretreatment), group 2 (who received 5 mL lidocaine [40 mg in 0.9% saline] pretreatment), and group 3 (who received 5 mL granisetron [2 mg in 0.9% saline] pretreatment). Injections were given in the largest vein on the dorsum of the hand. After 2 minutes, the tourniquet was released and one fourth of the total calculated dose of propofol (2.5 mg/kg body weight) was administered and pain assessment was made. Lidocaine and granisetron significantly reduced the incidence and severity of propofol injection pain more than placebo (P < 0.001). The efficacy of granisetron in alleviating the pain on injection of propofol was no different from lidocaine. Granisetron pretreatment may be used to reduce the incidence of pain on injection of propofol, an advantage added to the useful prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting.