title: Excision biopsy in a patient with suspected local anaesthetic allergy: use of 0.9% saline with benzyl alcohol as local anaesthesia.
abstract: Dermatologists may see patients with actual or suspected local anaesthetic (LA) allergy who require an urgent dermatological procedure to be performed without time for formal allergy testing. We report a case of shave biopsy and subsequent excision biopsy of an atypical naevus performed using tumescent analgesia with 0.9% saline containing benzyl alcohol preservative. The tumescence itself and the benzyl alcohol present in the 0.9% saline solution provided sufficient analgesia for excision. This technique may be an option for managing urgent procedures in patients suspected or known to have allergy to LA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Royal London Hospital, London, UK. v.jolliffe@qmul.ac.uk
authors.forename: V M L
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Jolliffe
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Sinclair
mesh_terms: D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019905:Benzyl Alcohol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000601:surgery*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D019905:Benzyl Alcohol