Benzyl alcohol with epinephrine as an alternative to lidocaine with epinephrine

A randomized, prospective, double-blind study comparing benzyl alcohol with epinephrine, 1:100,000 (BA), and lidocaine with epinephrine, 1:100,000 (LI D), as local anesthetics was carried out on adult patients with simple lace rations. The two study groups were compared for pain of infiltration (100 m m visual analog scale) and need for additional anesthesia. Pain scores were compared by a Mann Whitney Independent Rank Sum test and need for addition al anesthesia by a Fishers Exact test. A total of 52 subjects (26 per group ) were analyzed. The groups were similar in demographics and wound characte ristics. The median pain score for BA, 7.5 mm, was less than for LID, 19.5 mm (p = 0.049). Although more patients receiving BA required additional ane sthesia as compared to LID (8/26 versus 2/26), this difference did not reac h statistical significance. BA is a reasonable alternative local anesthetic to LID for patients who are allergic to LID. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc .