Evaluation of lidocaine as an analgesic when added to hypertonic saline for sclerotherapy.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The efficacy of sclerosing agents for the treatment of telangiectasias and reticular veins is well established. The injection of these agents is often associated with pain, and it is not uncommon for sclerotherapists to include lidocaine with the sclerosants in an attempt to reduce the pain associated with treatment. However, there are concerns that this may reduce the overall efficacy of the treatment because of dilution of the sclerosant. Patient comfort and overall outcome associated with treatment using HS with lidocaine (LIDO) versus that using HS alone was compared.

METHODS:

Forty-two patients were prospectively entered into the study and randomized blindly to sclerotherapy with 23.4% HS or 19% LIDO. Study subjects and treating physicians were blinded to the injection solution used. Injection sites were chosen for veins ranging in size from 0.1 to 3 mm. Photographs of the area to be treated were taken, and the patients rated their pain. They were then observed at regular intervals for four months, and clinical data was collected. Thirty-five subjects completed the full follow-up period, and photographs of the injected area were taken again. Three investigators blinded to the treatment assignment then evaluated the photographs and scored the treatment efficacy according to a standardized system.

RESULTS:

In the HS group, 61.9% (13 of 21) patients rated their pain as none or mild, whereas 90.5% (19 of 21) of patients in the LIDO group had no or mild discomfort. This difference is significant, with a P value of.034. There was no difference in the overall efficacy of treatment between the two groups. The groups had similar rates of vein thrombosis and skin necrosis.

CONCLUSION:

Although lidocaine is often used with sclerosing agents, there are no previous reports in the literature to evaluate its effectiveness in reducing the pain experienced by the patient. In this study, patients receiving LIDO experienced significantly less discomfort at the time of injection than patients who received HS alone. There were no differences in the effectiveness of treatment or in the incidence of complications between the two groups.

• Authors: R H Bukhari, J M Lohr, D S Paget, A T Hearn, R D Cranley
• Journal: Journal of vascular surgery (J Vasc Surg) Vol. 29 Issue 3 Pg. 479-83 (Mar 1999) ISSN: 0741-5214 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10069912 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Analgesics
• Anesthetics, Local
• Saline Solution, Hypertonic
• Sclerosing Solutions
• Lidocaine

Topics

• Analgesics (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Anesthetics, Local (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Incidence
• Injections, Intralesional (adverse effects)
• Lidocaine (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Necrosis
• Pain (prevention & control)
• Patient Satisfaction
• Photography
• Prospective Studies
• Saline Solution, Hypertonic (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Sclerosing Solutions (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Sclerotherapy (adverse effects)
• Skin (pathology)
• Telangiectasis (pathology, therapy)
• Treatment Outcome
• Veins (drug effects, pathology)
• Venous Thrombosis (chemically induced)