Propofol and pain on induction: the effect of injectate temperature in children.

A prospective, randomized, double-blind study was conducted to determine whether cooled intravenous propofol reduces the incidence of pain on induction of anaesthesia in children. Seventy patients aged 3-10 years, ASA I or II, were randomized to receive 1% propofol plus 0.05% lidocaine either at room temperature (20-23 degrees C) or cooled to 4C. Pain was assessed by a blinded observer using a behavioural scale. Data from 69 patients were analysed. The incidence of pain was 9/34 (26%, 95% confidence intervals 11-41%) in the room temperature injectate group and 5/35 (14%, 95% confidence intervals 3-26%) in the cold injectate group. These differences were not statistically significant (P=0.21, chi-squared test). Pain scores were similar in both groups.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes