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Lignocaine as a topical analgesia for post-operative nasal pack removal: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2006

V S P Durvasula
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Edith Cavell Hospital, Peterborough,UK.
C Brewis
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Edith Cavell Hospital, Peterborough,UK.
F Syeda
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Edith Cavell Hospital, Peterborough,UK.
P Leong
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Edith Cavell Hospital, Peterborough,UK.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of topical lignocaine in reducing the pain of pack removal after nasal surgery. Fifty-eight patients with Merocel nasal packs in situ after nasal surgery were randomized to receive 10 ml of either 2 per cent lignocaine or 0.9 per cent saline on the packs 10 minutes prior to their removal and thepain experienced on their removal was recorded on a visual analogue scale. The median pain score was 3.4 in the lignocaine group and 2.9 in the saline group with no statistical evidence of adifference between the two groups. There was no statistical evidence of an association between the group and the operation performed, the use of intra-operative Moffat’s solution or the use of post-operative oral analgesia. We conclude that lignocaine used in this way does not reduce the pain of pack removal after nasal surgery.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2005 Royal Society of Medicine Press

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