TETRACAINE, EPINEPHRINE (ADRENALINE), AND COCAINE (TAC) VERSUS LIDOCAINE, EPINEPHRINE, AND TETRACAINE (LET) FOR ANESTHESIA OF LACERATIONS IN CHILDREN

Study objective: To compare the duration of anesthesia experienced wit h lidocaine, epinephrine, and tetracaine (LET) solution and that with tetracaine, epinephrine (Adrenalin), and cocaine (TAC) solution during suturing of uncomplicated lacerations on the face or scalp. Design: D ouble-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Setting: The emergency depa rtment of a university-affiliated private children's hospital. Partici pants: One hundred seventy-one children with lacerations on the face a nd scalp requiring suturing. Interventions: After standard application of the anesthetic solution, patients were assessed for signs of disco mfort before and during laceration repair. Duration of anesthesia duri ng laceration repair was determined on the basis of the length of time after removal of the anesthetic solution to the first sign(s) of disc omfort that required additional anesthesia. Results: There was no stat istical difference between TAC and LET in adequacy of anesthesia befor e suturing or in duration of anesthesia during suturing. Conclusion: L ET is an effective alternative to TAC for topical anesthesia during su turing of uncomplicated lacerations on the face and scalp in children.