PRETREATMENT WITH LIGNOCAINE; EFFECTS ON PAIN OF ROCURONIUM INJECTION AND WITHDRAWAL MOVEMENTS OF THE ARM

To assess the frequency of pain and withdrawal movements after injection of rocuronium and effects of pre-treatmentwith lignocaine. Study Design: Double blind study. Duration of Study: This study was of six months duration and was carried out from March2004 to September 2004. Setting: Combined Military Hospital Kharian. Patients and Methods: One hundred and twenty unpremedicatedpatients with ASA grade I and II, aged between 18-60 years and of both sexes were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomly divided intotwo groups of 60 patients each. After induction of anaesthesia with thiopentone, patients in group A received 3 ml of lignocaine plain while thosein group B, received 3 ml of normal saline as pre-treatment before injection of rocuronium. Their effects on pain on injection and withdrawalmovements of the arm were studied. Results: Out of total of 120 patients, only 17 patients (14%) developed withdrawal movements of the armor wrist. In Group A, who received lignocaine plain before rocuronium injection, only 3 patients out of 60 patients had withdrawal movementswhile in Group B, who received normal saline as pre-treatment fourteen out of 60 patients developed withdrawal movements of the arm or wrist.Only one patient belonging to Group B experienced pain. Conclusions: Pretreatment with lignocaine plain greatly reduces the chances ofwithdrawal movements and pain on injection of rocuronium.