title: Sphenoidal electrode insertion using topical anesthesia.
abstract: Sphenoidal electrodes are frequently used in epilepsy centers, but ins ertion can be painful. We used a topical anesthetic cream on patients (2.5% lodocaine, 2.5% prilocaine) before inserting electrodes and had patients rate their discomfort on an analogue pain scale. As a comparison, the same patients rated the pain caused by inserting a heparin lock. There was no significant difference between the pain of sphenoidal electrode insertion with use of topical anesthesia and that of heparin lock insertion. We suggest that when a topical anesthetic is used, the discomfort of inserting sphenoidal electrodes is minimal and comparable to that of inserting a heparin lock.
authors.affiliation: Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Bazil
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Walczak
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000523:psychology; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011318:Prilocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013100:Sphenoid Bone / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D011318:Prilocaine; D006493:Heparin; D008012:Lidocaine