Comparison of Effect of Lidocaine and Dexmedetomidine for Prevention of Propofol Induced Pain: A Prospective, Randomized, Double Blind Controlled Study

Propofol, an intravenous anesthetic widely used for general anaesthesia cause severe pain in most of people. The aim of this study was to compare effect of lidocaine and dexmedetomidine for prevention of propofol induced pain. The patients received normal saline (5 ml) in Group I, 0.5μg/kg of dexmedetomidine diluted in 5 ml normal saline in Group II, and 0.5 mg/kg of lidocaine diluted in 5 ml normal saline in Group III through intravenous route. The study drug was injected through the cannula over 5s and 25% of the induction dose of propofol (2 mg/kg) was administered over 10s by a mechanical syringe and Pain was graded using the four point scale. In control group 10%, 12%,32%, and 46% patients said no, mild, moderate, severe pain respectively while in dexmedetomine group 52%,44%, and 4% patients said no, mild and moderate pain respectively. In the lidocaine group 64%,34% and 2% patients said no, mild and moderate pain respectively. In both groups none of the patient complained severe pain. These drugs were effective in reducing the propofol injection pain compared to control group, but lidocaine was better than dexmedetomidine.