Lidocaine tape relieves pain due to needle insertion during stellate ganglion block.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of lidocaine tape, a new preparation of lidocaine for cutaneous topical anaesthesia in the form of a self-adhesive tape, in alleviating the pain of needle insertion during stellate ganglion block.


METHODS
In a double-blind, placebo controlled study, 30 adult outpatients undergoing stellate ganglion block were allocated to receive all of the following five treatments in random order: placebo tape applied to the intended site of the block (control), or lidocaine tape applied for 7, 15, 30, and 60 min. After the block was performed using a 24-gauge needle, the pain associated with needle insertion was assessed using a visual analogue scale (10 cm VAS) and the four-point verbal rating score (VRS 0-3).


RESULTS
With placebo tape, the VAS and VRS scores were 2.4 +/- 1.27 (0.5-4.8) (mean +/- SD (range)) and 1.5 (1-2) (mean (range)), respectively. The pain scores were reduced (P < 0.01) by lidocaine tape after application for 7 min (1.6 +/- 1.06 and 1.0 (0-2) for VAS (mean +/- SD) and VRS (mean (range)), respectively), 15 min (1.5 +/- 1.00 and 1.0 (1-2)), 30 min (1.5 +/- 1.08 and 1.0 (1)), and 60 min (0.6 +/- 0.70 and 0.6 (0-1)). Skin erythema was more frequent with lidocaine tape than with placebo tape (seven minutes of lidocaine tape vs placebo tape, P < 0.05; 15, 30, and 60 min of lidocaine tape vs placebo, P < 0.0005).


CONCLUSIONS
Stellate ganglion block without analgesia is fairly painful in some patients, even when using a 24-gauge needle, and needle pain is reduced by lidocaine tape after an application time of seven minutes or more.
Inada
T
T
Department of Anaesthesia, Matsue Red Cross Hospital, Shimane, Japan.
Uesugi
F
F
Kawachi
S
S
Inada
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001340:Autonomic Nerve Block / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013233:Stellate Ganglion
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine