Comparison of two drugs, ephedrine and lidocaine, on pain caused by propofol injection in patients undergoing elective surgery

To reduce the pain caused by propofol injection, a wide range of medicinal and non-pharmacological methods have been investigated.

This double-blind randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 60 patients who were candidates for elective surgery referred to Peymaniyeh Hospital in Jahrom city. Patients were divided into two groups A: lidocaine 2% at a dose of 1 mg/kg and group B: ephedrine at a dose of 70 micrograms/kg using a random number table. Lidocaine and ephedrine were injected within 5 seconds, and after 30 seconds, propofol 1% in the amount of 3 ml (equivalent to 30 mg) was injected into the corresponding vein at a rate of 0.5 ml per second. After the injection, the patient was clearly asked about pain or discomfort at the injection site, and the answer was yes or no, and if there was pain, its severity was recorded in the questionnaire based on verbal descriptions.

Comparing the pain caused by propofol injection in the lidocaine and ephedrine groups, using the chi-square test, showed that the frequency of pain in the ephedrine group (33.3%) was not significant compared to the lidocaine group (16.7%). (p=0.20).

In the present study, both ephedrine and lidocaine drugs significantly reduced the pain caused by propofol injection, but the scale of this difference between the two groups was not significant. Therefore, these two drugs can be widely used depending on the condition of the patient in reducing pain during propofol injection.