T. Inada et al., LIDOCAINE TAPE RELIEVES PAIN DUE TO NEEDLE INSERTION DURING STELLATE GANGLION BLOCK, Canadian journal of anaesthesia, 44(3), 1997, pp. 259-262
Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of lidocaine tape, a new preparat
ion of lidocaine for cutaneous topical anaesthesia in the form of a se
lf-adhesive tape, in alleviating the pain of needle insertion during s
tellate ganglion block. Methods: In a double-blind, placebo controlled
study, 30 adult outpatients undergoing stellate ganglion block were a
llocated to receive all of the following five treatments in random ord
er; placebo tape applied to the intended site of the block (control),
or lidocaine tape applied for 7, 15, 30, and 60 min. After the block w
as performed using a 24-gauge needle, the pain associated with needle
insertion was assessed using a visual analogue scale (10 cm VAS) and t
he four-point verbal rating score (VRS 0-3). Results: With placebo tap
e, the VAS and VRS scores were 2.4 +/- 1.27 (0.5-4.8) (mean +/- SD (ra
nge)) and 1.5 (1-2) (mean (range)), respectively The pain scores were
reduced (P<0.01) by lidocaine tape after application for 7 min (1.6 +/
- 1.06 and 1.O (0-2) for VAS (mean +/- SD) and VRS (mean (range)), res
pectively), 15 min (1.5 +/- 1.00 and 1.0 (1-2)), 30 min (1.5 +/- 1.08
and 1.0 (1)), and 60 min (0.6 +/- 0.70 and 0.6 (0-1)). Skin erythema w
as more frequent with lidocaine tape than with placebo tape (seven min
utes of lidocaine tape vs placebo tape, P<0.05; 15, 30, and 60 min of
lidocaine tape vs placebo, P<0.0005). Conclusion: Stellate ganglion bl
ock without analgesia is fairly painful in some patients, even when us
ing a 24-gauge needle, and needle pain is reduced by lidocaine tape af
ter an application time of seven minutes or more.