Cisatracurium Pretreatment with Tourniquet - Role in Propofol Injection Pain: A Prospective, Randomized, Double Blind and Control Study

Abstract

Introduction:Propofol is an anaesthetic drug which is given to induce and maintain anaesthesia in adults undergoing surgery. This prospective, randomized, controlled study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of cisatracurium as a pretreatment drug in reducing incidence and severity of propofol injection pain. Material and methods:Patient undergoing general anaesthesia were randomized in four groups of 25 patients each. Group A received normal saline (control group), Group B received Cisatracurium 0.05mg/kg IV, Group C received Cisatracurium 0.1mg/kg IV, Group D received Cisatracurium 0.15mg/kg IV. All drugs were administered into the largest dorsal vein of the hand with venous occlusion for 30 sec, followed by propofol (0.5mg/kg). Pain was evaluated using a four point scale.Result: Cisatracurium 0.15mg/kg significantly lowers both incidence and severity of propofol induced pain. Cisatracurium 0.1mg/kg and cisatracurium 0.05mg/kg both significantly lower the severity of pain but not the incidence as compared to control group. Conclusion:Cisatracurium is an effective drug in reducing propofol induced pain. It reduces the incidence and severity both of pain in 0.15mg/kg dose. Whereas only severity is decreased with 0.10 mg/kg and 0.05 mg/kg dose of cisatracurium without any significant complications.