MODULATING EFFECTS OF LIGNOCAINE ON PROPOFOL

Pain is a well known complication of propofol injection. Premixing wit h lignocaine 0.1 mg.kg(-1) and injection into a targe forearm vein has been recommended. The amount of lignocaine to be added is often empir ical when the vein on the dorsum of the hand is used. In this study we attempt to determine the optimal amount of lignocaine necessary to re duce pain when propofol is injected into a hand vein. Our study shows that a propofol emulsion containing 0.05% lignocaine is effective in r educing the incidence of propofol injection pain. The addition of lign ocaine also reduces the incidence of excitatory effects. Increasing th e dosage of lignocaine above 0.05% does not improve the results.