Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of pretreatment with cisatracurium for prevention of pain associated with propofol injection, and compare its efficacy with that of lidocaine.
Methods: Patients undergoing general anaesthesia were randomized to receive normal saline (control group), lidocaine (0.5 mg/kg), 0.03 mg/kg cisatracurium or 0.15 mg/kg cisatracurium. All drugs were administered into the largest dorsal vein of the hand with venous occlusion for 30 s, followed by propofol (0.5 mg/kg). Pain was evaluated using a four-point scale.
Results: The incidence and severity of pain was significantly lower in the lidocaine and 0.15 mg/kg cisatracurium groups than the control and 0.03 mg/kg cisatracurium groups (n = 50/group). There was no significant difference between the lidocaine and 0.15 mg/kg cisatracurium groups in the incidence and severity of pain.
Conclusions: 0.15 mg/kg cisatracurium effectively decreases the incidence and severity of pain induced by propofol injection without any significant complications.
Keywords: Cisatracurium; general anaesthesia; propofol injection pain.