The Analgesic Effect of Paracetamol When Added to Lidocaine for Intravenous Regional Anesthesia

Alparslan Turan, MDठBACKGROUND: In this study, we evaluated the effect of paracetamol on sensory and motor block onset time, tourniquet pain, and postoperative analgesia, when added to lidocaine in IV regional anesthesia (IVRA). METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing hand surgery were randomly and blindly divided into three groups. All groups received IVRA lidocaine (3 mg/kg) diluted with saline to a total volume of 40 mL. Group 1 received IVRA lidocaine plus IV saline, Group 2 received IVRA lidocaine and paracetamol (300 mg) admixture plus IV saline, and Group 3 received IVRA lidocaine plus IV paracetamol (300 mg). Sensory and motor block onset time, tourniquet pain, and analgesic use were assessed during operation. After tourniquet deflation, visual analog scale (VAS) scores at 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h, the time to first analgesic requirement, total analgesic consumption in first 24 h, and side effects were noted. RESULTS: Onset of motor block was shorter and recovery of motor and sensory block was significantly longer in Group 2 (P 0.05). Intraoperative VAS scores at intraoperative 20, 30, and 40 min were significantly lower in Group 2 (P 0.05). Intraoperative fentanyl consumption (78 12, 58 14, 78 11 g, respectively) and the number of patients who required fentanyl for tourniquet pain (13 patients, 3 patients, 9 patients, respectively) were significantly less in Group 2 (P 0.05). Time to postoperative fentanyl administration was also prolonged (15 6, 25 5, 15 4 min, respectively) in Group 2 (P 0.05). The quality of surgical anesthesia was better in Group 2 (P 0.05). Postoperative VAS scores and time of initial analgesic requirement were similar among groups; however, the total amount of diclophenac use was less in Group 2 (P 0.05). CONCLUSION: The addition of paracetamol during IVRA with lidocaine decreased tourniquet pain, increased anesthesia quality, and decreased postoperative analgesic consumption.