title: [Dolasetron reduces pain on injection of propofol].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pain on injection is a well known side-effect of propofol. The present study was designed to assess the efficacy of dolasetron, a 5-HT 3 -antagonist, in prophylaxis of pain on injection of propofol compared with lidocaine and placebo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomised, double-blinded study including 150 patients randomly assigned to one of three groups: Group A received 12.5 mg dolasetron, group B 40 mg lidocaine and group C saline 0.9 % as placebo. After occluding the venous drainage the test medication was given. The occlusion was released after 1 min and 2.0 mg/kg Propofol was administered over a period of 30 sec. The patients were asked whether they felt any pain during the administration. Pain on injection was judged by using a four-point scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incidence of pain on injection as well as the severity of pain was significantly reduced by lidocaine (62 % pain free) compared with placebo (28 %). Severity, but not incidence of pain on injection was significantly reduced by dolasetron (50 %) compared with placebo. There was no significant difference between dolasetron and lidocaine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dolasetron and lidocaine were effective in preventing pain of injection secondary to propofol.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Anästhesiologie und Operative Intensivmedizin, Klinikum Ludwigshafen, Ludwigshafen, Germany. swen.n.piper@t-online.de
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Piper
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Röhm
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papsdorf
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Maleck
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mattinger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boldt