BACKGROUND To evaluate if the addition of lidocaine to the gel used for gel infusion sonohysterography (GIS) reduces pain experienced during GIS or subsequent hysteroscopy. METHODS A total of 142 consecutive patients were randomized using computer-generated random integers. In 79 patients, GIS was performed with a gel containing lidocaine (Instillagel®) and in 63 patients the gel did not cont...

BACKGROUND Pain is a common adverse effect of dermatological laser procedures. Currently, no standard topical anaesthetic cream exists for deeper dermal laser procedures. OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy of lidocaine/tetracaine cream and lidocaine/prilocaine cream in reducing self-reported pain during deeper dermal laser treatment of acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN) and tattoos. METHODS We co...

BACKGROUND The maintenance and termination of reentry arrhythmias are determined by tissue properties such as refractoriness and conduction velocity. Although the effects of Na(+) and K(+) channel block on electrophysiological properties and defibrillation threshold (DFT) have been studied, little is known about the effect of gap junction blockers on defibrillation and tissue electrophysiologic...

BACKGROUND Local anaesthetics exhibit direct neurotoxic effects on neurones. Numerous studies have investigated the factors that may reverse this neuropathology, but the effects of glucose conditions on neuronal regeneration after lidocaine-induced injury have not been examined by observing living neurones. The present study investigated the effects of different glucose conditions on neurite le...

The analgesic effect of a local anesthetic is often insufficient in acutely inflamed tissues, due to the reduced pH and/or vasodilation. Thus, vasoconstrictors (adrenaline or noradrenaline) are often used to contain the anesthetic and prolong the analgesia, although there are minimal data regarding their effects in inflamed tissues. Therefore, we prepared a model of blood vessel inflammation (u...

Background Although intravenous (i.v.) lidocaine is used as a perioperative analgesic in abdominal surgery, evidence of efficacy is limited. The infusion dose and duration remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a longer low-dose 48-hour infusion regimen on these outcomes. Methods Fifty-eight adults undergoing elective open colorectal surgery were randomized into the lid...

A high-pressure electro-osmotic micro-pump fabricated by a sol-gel process is reported as a fluid-driving unit in a flow-injection analysis (FIA) system. The micro FIA system consists of a monolithic micro-pump on a glass slide (2.5 x 7.5 cm), a micro-injector, and a micro-sensor (2.5 x 1.5 cm). The monolithic silica matrix has a continuous skeleton morphology with micrometer-sized through-pore...

INTRODUCTION Methemoglobinemia is a rare cause of hypoxemia, characterized by abnormal levels of oxidized hemoglobin that cannot bind to and transport oxygen. CASE PRESENTATION A 62-year-old male underwent bronchoscopy where lidocaine oral solution and Hurricaine spray (20% benzocaine) were used. He developed central cyanosis and his oxygen saturation was 85% via pulse oximetry. An arterial b...

BACKGROUND Sore throat and hoarseness are common complications, but these have not been studied after total i.v. anaesthesia. METHODS We prospectively studied 418 surgical patients, aged 15-92 yr, after total i.v. anaesthesia with propofol, fentanyl and ketamine to assess possible factors associated with sore throat and hoarseness. RESULT We found sore throat in 50% and hoarseness in 55% of...

Few health care professionals realize that topical anesthetic spray can cause methemoglobinemia. We describe a 56-year-old woman who was transferred to our emergency department when severe cyanosis and chest pain developed after administration of topical oropharyngeal benzocaine and lidocaine during outpatient endoscopy. Investigations revealed a methemoglobin level of 51%. Despite rapid diagno...