Prevention of pain on propofol injection by lignocaine,pethidine, dexamethasone and placebo: A comparative study.

Objectives: 1) To compare the efficacy of lignocaine, pethidine, dexamethasone with placebo in prevention of pain on propofol injection; and 2) to proclaim the better drug among these in preventing such pain. Study Design: Comparative, prospective, randomized, double blind, hospital based. Participants: 100 patients of ASA class I & II undergoing upper abdominal surgeries Material & Methods: 100 patients of either sex of ASA status I & II posted for upper abdominal surgeries were allocated randomly into 4 groups of 25 each. Venous occlusion was made with tourniquet for 1 minute. The study drug, diluted in normal saline, pethidine 25 mg in 5 ml (Group I), Lignocaine 1% 2 ml in 5 ml (Group II), Dexamethasone 4 mg in 5 ml (Group III) or normal saline 5 ml (Group IV) was administered intravenously over 10 seconds accordingly to random number. Thereafter occlusion was released and intravenous propofol was given. After the first 25 % of propofol given, patients were asked for intensity of pain experienced using verbal rating scale. Results: Lignocaine, Pethidine and Dexamethasone significantly reduce pain on propofol injection in comparison to placebo (P=0.001), but there was no significant difference in pain score among group I, II & III (P=0.474). There was no significant difference in recall of pain among group I, II & III (P=0.793) although there was significant difference between placebo group and other three groups (P=0.0001) Conclusions: Lignocaine, pethidine and Dexamethasone significantly reduce pain induced by propofol injection as compared to placebo but there is no difference in efficacy for prevention of pain among these three groups