title: Comparison of the effect of EMLA and semicircular subcutaneous anaesthesia in the prevention of tourniquet pain during plexus block anaesthesia of the arm.
abstract: In 54 patients who were to undergo surgery of the upper extremity in plexus block anaesthesia the effect of 5 g EMLA (group E) on tourniquet pain was examined and compared with the effect of a semicircular subcutaneous anaesthesia using 10 ml 0.25% bupivacaine (group B) or 10 ml 1% mepivacaine (group M). Among the patients with satisfactory brachial plexus analgesia allowing for surgery (n = 51), the incidence of tourniquet pain was not significantly different between groups E, M and B. Notably, there was no significant difference in the time of tourniquet application. We conclude that topical application of EMLA is as effective as a semicircular subcutaneous anaesthesia with mepivacaine or bupivacaine in the prevention of tourniquet pain during brachial plexus anaesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tschaikowsky
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hemmerling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001917:Brachial Plexus; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000601:surgery; D006225:Hand / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D008297:Male; D008619:Mepivacaine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011318:Prilocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014111:Tourniquets / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D011318:Prilocaine; D008012:Lidocaine; D008619:Mepivacaine; D002045:Bupivacaine