TOPICAL LIDOCAINE ADRENALINE TETRACAINE (LAT GEL) VERSUS INJECTABLE BUFFERED LIDOCAINE FOR LOCAL-ANESTHESIA IN LACERATION REPAIR

The objective of the study was to compare topical lidocaine adrenaline tetracaine (LAT gel) with injectable buffered lidocaine with epinephr ine regarding pain of application or injection and anesthesia effectiv eness. The study was a randomized prospective comparison trial in an u rban emergency department. Physicians and patients ranked the pain of application, injection, and suturing according to a 10-cm visual analo g scale. Sixty-six patients were entered, 33 in the LAT gel group and 33 in the injectable buffered lidocaine group. Injection was found to be significantly more painful than application of gel (P < 0.001). For anesthesia effectiveness, there was no difference according to patien ts (P = 0.48) or physicians (P = 0.83) for topical vs injectable forms . The number of sutures causing pain was not statistically different i n the two groups (P = 0.28). In conclusion, LAT gel compared favorably with injectable buffered lidocaine for local anesthesia effectiveness and was significantly less painful to apply. It may be the preferred local anesthetic for this reason.