Pre-treatment with lignocaine and ondansetron for prevention of pain on propofol injection: A prospective, double blinded, randomised comparative study

Abstract

Background: Propofol is widely used for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia as well as for intensive care unit (ICU) sedation. One of its persistent side effects that still remains of concern today is the vascular pain associated with its injection. It causes significant distress to the patient and interfere with smooth induction of anaesthesia. Various pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions have been done to eliminate pain on propofol injection (POPI). In this study we compared lignocaine and ondansetron in decreasing POPI during intravenous induction of anaesthesia. Material and methods: One hundred adult patients belonging to American society of Anaesthesiology (ASA) physical status I and II, scheduled for elective surgeries under general anaesthesia were selected and randomly allocated in to two groups. Group 1 received intravascular injection of lignocaine 0.1 mg/kg and Group 2 received injection ondansetron 0.1mg/kg as pre-treatment. A tourniquet was put before giving the pre-treatment followed by injection propofol for both the groups. Patients were assessed for pain during injection of propofol. Heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation were recorded at peri-induction and postoperatively. Results: The results showed no pain following propofol injection in 54% (Group 1, lignocaine group) and 60% (Group 2, ondansetron group); moderate pain in 10% in both the groups; severe pain in 2% (Group 1) and 6% (Group 2), of the patients. No significant haemodynamic changes were observed in both the groups. Conclusion: Pre-treatment with ondansetron is as effective as lignocaine in reducing POPI.