The Effect of Vibration on Pain During Intravenous Injection of Propofol

Abstract

Purpose Pain is a common side effect of intravenous injection of propofol. We conducted a randomized, prospective, single-blinded controlled trial to assess the efficacy of vibration analgesia on pain during propofol infusion in ambulatory surgery. Methods After institutional review board approval, 100 patients undergoing elective ambulatory surgery with general anesthesia were randomized into 2 groups. A control group (n = 50) consisted of patients who received infusion of propofol without vibration analgesia. A treatment group (n = 50) consisted of patients who received infusion of propofol with vibration analgesia using the Buzzy device. Pain was assessed using a 4-point pain manifestation scale scored by 2 independent, blinded observers. Results Participants in the treatment group with vibration analgesia were 0.47 times less likely (95% confidence interval, 0.24–0.94; P = 0.03) to experience any pain than the control group. The median summative pain score in the treatment group was significantly less than that of the control group [1 (interquartile range, 1–2) vs 2 (interquartile range, 2–4); P < 0.01] among participants who experienced any pain. Agreement between the 2 blinded observers regarding pain scores was excellent with κ w = 0.82 (P < 0.001). Age, sex, body mass index, needle location or size, and medication doses did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. Conclusion Vibration analgesia is an effective, low-risk modality that reduces the pain of intravenous propofol injection in general anesthesia.

Vibration Anesthesia for Propofol-Rocuronium Injection Pain

“…Lately in 2021 a manuscript was published about vibration anesthesia before propofol injection and like us they found the same results. However, our study was the first in the literature to evaluate the impact of vibration on both propofol and rocuronium injection pain (31).…”

Effektive Schmerzreduzierung bei Propofolinjektionen

“…Eine kleinere Untersuchung beschäftigte sich mit der sogenannten Vibrationsanalgesie. Hierbei wird die Vene während der Injektion über ein vibrierendes Device stimuliert [11]. Gleiche Verfahren werden schon seit Längerem in der Pädiatrie für Venenpunktionen und Impfungen untersucht und angewendet [12].…”