Effect of percutaneous local anaesthetics on pain reduction during pulse dye laser treatment of portwine stains.
We have used EMLA, 4% amethocaine gel and placebo for facial portwine stains, for a period of 1 h, in a double-blind study. After removal of the preparations from the skin surface, each area was treated with six pulses of the laser, each 5 mm in diameter. Any pain noted immediately after treatment was recorded using both visual analogue (VAS) and verbal rating (VRS) scores. Twenty nine patients completed the study and statistical analysis of the results indicated that both EMLA and 4% amethocaine gel were superior to placebo (P < 0.001). However, when EMLA and 4% amethocaine gel were compared, the amethocaine preparation was significantly better (P < 0.05, VAS; P < 0.005 VRS) than EMLA in reducing pain caused by the laser treatment.
McCafferty
D F
DF
School of Pharmacy, Queen's University of Belfast, Medical Biology Centre.
Woolfson
A D
AD
Handley
J
J
Allen
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D019339:Port-Wine Stain / Q000601:surgery*; D011318:Prilocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013748:Tetracaine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D011318:Prilocaine; D013748:Tetracaine; D008012:Lidocaine