LIDOCAINE TAPE RELIEVES PAIN DUE TO NEEDLE INSERTION DURING STELLATE GANGLION BLOCK

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.