RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL OF PH BUFFERED LIGNOCAINE WITH ADRENALINE INOUTPATIENT OPERATIONS

Bicarbonate buffering of local anaesthetics is known to significantly decrease the pain of their administration and yet few practising surge ons do so. A double-blind randomised cross-over clinical trial was con ducted to confirm the practicality and efficacy of bicarbonate bufferi ng of lignocaine with adrenaline in the setting of a busy local anaest hetic operating theatre. 40 patients received either buffered or contr ol local anaesthetic solutions in equivalent sites on opposite sides o f the body. The pain of each injection was rated from 0 (no pain) to 1 0 (extreme pain). The mean pain score for the buffered solution was si gnificantly lower than the control solution (3.06 vs 4.34, P=0.002). B icarbonate buffering of lignocaine with adrenaline is effective, inexp ensive and simple; its widespread use should be encouraged.