PERCUTANEOUS ANESTHESIA WITH A LIGNOCAINE-PRILOCAINE CREAM (EMLA) FOREYELID SKIN SURGERY

Epicutaneous application of the anaesthetic cream Emla (lignocaine and prilocaine), to induce percutaneous anaesthesia in 38 patients schedu led for eyelid skin surgery is presented. The cream was applied 60 to 90 minutes before operation. In 36 out of the 38 patients (94.8%) no s upplementary analgesia was required. The pain during the procedure was rated either as no pain in 29 patients (76.3%), slight pain in five p atients (13%), moderate pain in two patients (5.2%), and severe pain i n two patients (5.2%). Percutaneous anaesthesia induced by Emla cream is a useful and painless alternative method for analgesia in eyelid sk in surgery.