COMPARISON OF THE EFFECT OF EMLA AND SEMICIRCULAR SUBCUTANEOUS ANESTHESIA IN THE PREVENTION OF TOURNIQUET PAIN DURING PLEXUS BLOCK ANESTHESIA OF THE ARM

In 54 patients who were to undergo surgery of the upper extremity in p lexus block anaesthesia the effect of 5 g EMLA (group E) on tourniquet pain was examined and compared with the effect of a semicircular subc utaneous anaesthesia using 10 ml 0.25% bupivacaine (group B) or 10 ml 1% mepivacaine (group M). Among the patients with satisfactory brachia l plexus analgesia allowing for surgery (n = 51), the incidence of tou rniquet pain was not significantly different between groups E, M and B . Notably, there was no significant difference in the time of tourniqu et application. We conclude that topical application of EMLA is as eff ective as a semicircular subcutaneous anaesthesia with mepivacaine or bupivacaine in the prevention of tourniquet pain during brachial plexu s anaesthesia.