• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2015

Background: Epidural injections are performed utilizing 3 approaches in the lumbar spine: caudal, interlaminar, and transforaminal. The literature on the efficacy of epidural injections has been sporadic. There are few high-quality randomized trials performed under fluoroscopy in managing disc herniation that have a long-term follow-up and appropriate outcome parameters. There is also a lack of literature comparing the efficacy of these 3 approaches. Methods: This manuscript analyzes data from 3 randomized controlled trials that assessed a total of 360 patients with lumbar disc herniation. There were 120 patients per trial either receiving local anesthetic alone (60 patients) or local anesthetic with steroids (60 patients). Results: Analysis showed similar efficacy for caudal, interlaminar, and transforaminal approaches in managing chronic pain and disability from disc herniation. The analysis of caudal epidural injections showed the potential superiority of steroids compared with local anesthetic alone a 2-year follow-up, based on the average relief per procedure. In the interlaminar group, results were somewhat superior for pain relief in the steroid group at 6 months and functional status at 12 months. Interlaminar epidurals provided improvement in a significantly higher proportion of patients. The proportion of patients nonresponsive to initial injections was also lower in the group for local anesthetic with steroid in the interlaminar trial. Conclusions: The results of this assessment show significant improvement in patients suffering from chronic lumbar disc herniation with 3 lumbar epidural approaches with local anesthetic alone, or using steroids with long-term follow-up of up to 2 years, in a contemporary interventional pain management setting.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 2015

Background: There have been few studies on the effect of an elevated concentration of lidocaine hydrochloride in the surgical removal of an impacted lower third molar. This study aimed to examine the efficacy of 4% lidocaine along with 1:100,000 epinephrine compared to 2% lidocaine along with 1:100,000 epinephrine as inferior alveolar nerve block for the removal of an impacted lower third molar. Methods: This single-blind study involved 31 healthy patients (mean age: 23 y; range: 19-33 y) with symmetrically impacted lower third molars as observed on panoramic radiographs. Volunteers required 2 surgical interventions by the same surgeon with a 3-week washout period. The volunteers were assigned either 4% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine or 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine as local anesthetic during each operation. Results: We recorded the time of administration, need for additional anesthetic administration, total volume of anesthetic used. We found that the patient's preference for either of the 2 types of local anesthetic were significantly different (P < 0.05). However, the extent of pulpal anesthesia, surgical duration, and duration of soft tissue anesthesia were not significantly different. Conclusions: Our study suggested that inferior alveolar nerve block using 4% lidocaine HCl with 1:100,000 epinephrine as a local anesthetic was clinically more effective than that using 2% lidocaine HCl with 1:100,000 epinephrine; the surgical duration was not affected, and no clinically adverse effects were encountered.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.143-149
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• 2018

Background: We evaluated the changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR), and the anesthetic and hemostatic effects, after injection of 2% lidocaine containing various concentrations of epinephrine in rats and mice to determine the appropriate concentration of epinephrine in various anesthetic mixtures. Methods: Rats and mice were randomly allocated to experimental groups: 2% lidocaine without epinephrine (L0), 2% lidocaine with epinephrine 1:200,000 (L200), 1:100,000 (L100), and 1:80,000 (L80). Changes in MAP and HR after administration of the anesthetic mixture were evaluated using a physiological recording system in rats. Onset and duration of local anesthesia was evaluated by pricking the hind paw of mice. A spectrophotometric hemoglobin assay was used to quantify the hemostatic effect. Results: MAP increased in response to epinephrine in a dose-dependent manner; it was significantly higher in the L80 group than in the L0 group at 5 min post-administration. The HR was relatively lower in the L0 group than in the L80 group. The time required for onset of action was < 1 min in all evaluation groups. The duration of action and hemostatic effect of the local anesthetic were significantly better in the L200, L100, and L80 groups than in the L0 group. Conclusion: L200 demonstrated relatively stable MAP and HR values with satisfactory efficacy and hemostatic effect. L200 might be a better local anesthetic for dental patients in terms of anesthetic efficacy and safety.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2021

Background: This study was designed to compare the efficacy of DentalVibe against 2% lidocaine gel in reducing pain during the administration of local anesthetic injection in the adult population. Methods: This was a split-mouth open-label, randomized, controlled clinical study conducted in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of a dental institute. Fifty patients who were scheduled for bilateral dental extractions requiring an inferior alveolar nerve block were enrolled in the study. Site A (n = 50) was coated with 2% lidocaine gel followed by a local anesthetic injection, and DentalVibe with local anesthetic injection was used for Site B (n = 50). The primary outcome was pain, which was recorded immediately after the administration of anesthetic injection using the Visual Analogue Scale [VAS 0 - 10]. Results: The VAS pain scores ranged from 4 to 10 for site A and 0 to 6 for site B. Comparison between the two sites showed a statistically significant difference [Mann-Whitney U test value = 51.50, P < 0.001] favoring site B. Conclusion: This study showed that DentalVibe reduces pain during injection of local anesthesia compared to topical anesthetic gel.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2020

Background: This study evaluated the efficacy of three intraoral topical anesthetics in reducing the injection needle prick pain from local anesthetic among children aged 7-11 years old. Methods: It is a prospective, Interventional, parallel design, single-blind, randomized clinical trial in which subjects (n=90) aged 7-11 years were included in the study based on an inclusion criteria. Subjects were divided into three groups based on computer-generated randomization with an allocation ratio of 1:1:1. Groups A, B, and C received benzocaine 20% jelly (Mucopain gel, ICPA health products Ltd, Ankleshwar, India), cetacaine anesthetic liquid (Cetylite Industries, Inc, Pennsauken, NJ), and EMLA cream (2% AstraZeneca UK Ltd, Luton, UK), respectively, according to manufacturer's instructions, for 1 minute prior to local anesthetic injection. After application of topical anesthetic agent, for all the groups, baseline pre-operative (prior to topical anesthetic administration) and post-operative scores (after local anesthetic administration) of pulse rate was recorded using Pulse oximeter (Gibson, Fingertip Pulse Oximeter, MD300C29, Beijing Choice Electronic). Peri-operative (i.e., during the administration of local anesthesia) scores were recorded using Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) Scale, Modified Children hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale (CPS) behavior rating scale, and Faces Pain Scale (FPS-R) - Revised (For self-reported pain). Direct self-reported and physiological measures were ascertained using FPS-R - Revised and Pulse oximeter, respectively, whereas CPS and FLACC scales assessed behavioral measures. To test the mean difference between the three groups, a one way ANOVA with post hoc tests was used. For statistical significance, a two-tailed probability value of P < 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The Cetacaine group had significantly lower pain scores for self-report (P < 0.001), behavioral, and physiological measures (P < 0.001) than the other two groups. However, there was no significant difference between the Benzocaine group and EMLA group during palatal injection prick. Conclusion: Cetacaine can be considered as an effective topical anesthetic agent compared to benzocaine 20% jelly (Mucopain gel) and EMLA cream.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2024

Background: The pain caused by local anesthetic injection can lead to patient anxiety prior to surgery, potentially necessitating sedation or general anesthesia during the excision procedure. In this study, we aim to compare the pain relief efficacy and safety of using a digital automatic anesthetic injector for local anesthesia. Methods: Thirty-three patients undergoing excision of a benign soft tissue tumor under local anesthesia were prospectively enrolled from September 2021 to February 2022. A single-blind, randomized controlled study was conducted. Patients were divided into two groups by randomization: the experimental group with digital automatic anesthetic injector method (I-JECT group) and the control group with conventional injection method. Before surgery, the Amsterdam preoperative anxiety information scale was used to measure the patients' anxiety. After local anesthetic was administered, the Numeric Pain Rating Scale was used to measure the pain. The amount of anesthetic used was divided by the surface area of the lesion was recorded. Results: Seventeen were assigned to the conventional group and 16 to the I-JECT group. The mean Numeric Pain Rating Scale was 1.75 in the I-JECT group and 3.82 in conventional group. The injection pain was lower in the I-JECT group (p< 0.01). The mean Amsterdam preoperative anxiety information scale was 11.00 in the I-JECT group and 9.65 in conventional group. Patient's anxiety did not correlate to injection pain regardless of the method of injection (p= 0.47). The amount of local anesthetic used per 1 cm² of tumor surface area was 0.74 mL/cm² in the I-JECT group and 2.31 mL/cm² in the conventional group. The normalization amount of local anesthetic was less in the I-JECT group (p< 0.01). There was no difference in the incidence of complications. Conclusion: The use of a digital automatic anesthetic injector has shown to reduce pain and the amount of local anesthetics without complication.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.357-363
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• 2011

In relieving local pains, ropivacaine has been widely used. In case of their application such as ointments and creams, it is difficult to expect their effects for a significant period of time, because they are easily removed by wetting, movement and contacting. Therefore, the new formulations that have suitable bioadhesion were needed to enhance local anesthetic effects. The effect of drug concentration and temperature on drug release was studied from the prepared 1.5% Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) (150MC) gels using synthetic cellulose membrane at $37{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$. As the drug concentration and temperature increased, the drug release increased. A linear relationship was observed between the logarithm of the permeability coefficient and the reciprocal temperature. The activation energy of drug permeation was 3.16 kcal/mol for a 1.5% loading dose. To increase the skin permeation of ropivacaine from CMC gel, enhancers such as saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, pyrrolidones, propylene glycol derivatives, glycerides, and non-ionic surfactants were incorporated into the ropivacaine-CMC gels. Among the enhancers used, polyoxyethylene 2-oleyl ether showed the highest enhancing effects. For the efficacy study, the anesthetic action of the formulated ropivacaine gel containing an enhancer and vasoconstrictor was evaluated with the tail-flick analgesimeter. According to the rat tail-flick test, 1.5% drug gels containing polyoxyethylene 2-oleyl ether and tetrahydrozoline showed the best prolonged local analgesic effects. In conclusion, the enhanced local anesthetic gels containing penetration enhancer and vasoconstrictor could be developed using the bioadhesive polymer.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.147-154
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• 2020

Background: Single inferior alveolar nerve block is ineffective in achieving adequate pulpal anesthesia in 30-80% of patients due to anatomical variations, local tissue pH, central sensitization, and several factors. Various supplementary techniques and combination of adjuvants with lignocaine are used to overcome these failures. Magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄), one such adjuvant, acts at the N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor resulting in effective anesthesia. The aim of this prospective, randomized, double-blind, clinical controlled trial was to evaluate the onset, anesthetic efficacy, duration and post-operative analgesia of 2% lignocaine with and without the addition of MgSO₄ in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis and apical periodontitis. Methods: Fourty-two patients were randomly divided into three groups: 2% lignocaine (group 1) and 2% lignocaine with MgSO₄ (75 mg) and (150 mg) in groups 2 and 3, respectively. Pre-operative vitals and Heft Parker-Visual Analogue Scale (HP-VAS) pain scores were recorded. The onset of anesthesia, anesthetic efficacy, and duration of anesthesia were evaluated post administration of the local anesthetic solution. The post-operative analgesia was examined at intervals of 2, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. Results: Administration of 150 mg MgSO₄ hastens the onset of anesthesia (1.29 min) and produces better anesthetic efficacy (3.29 HP-VAS) compared to group 2 (2.07 min and 9.14 HP-VAS) and group 1 (3.29 min and 35.79 HP-VAS), respectively. The duration of anesthesia was significantly higher in group 3 (247.07 min) compared to that of groups 2 and 1 (190 min and 110.21 min) with P < 0.05. Conclusion: Combining 75 mg or 150 mg of MgSO₄ with lignocaine is more effective than 2% lignocaine and 75 mg of MgSO₄ is adequate for endodontic procedures.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.4 no.1 s.6
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• pp.13-16
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• 2004

Background: Articaine, a new amide-type local anesthetic, was recently commercially available in Korea. The purpose of this study was to compare the anesthetic efficacy between articaine HCl and lidocaine HCl for the surgical extraction of bilateral mandibular impacted third molars. Patients and Methods: Forty young and healthy patients with bilateral impacted third molars were selected with permission. Randomly, one side of impacted third molar was operated under local anesthesia using 4% articaine and the other side under 2% lidocaine after 1 or 2 week recovery time. Intraoperative pain was evaluated via 0-10 cm visual analog scale (VAS) by both the patient and operator immediately after the operation. After 1 day and 7 days, the complications of local anesthesia were checked. Results: The pain VAS scores in articaine group, evaluated by both the patient and operator, were lower than those in lidocaine group, but they were not statistically significant (P = 0.44 and 0.54, respectively). The incidence of complications of local anesthesia between articaine and lidocaine was similar. Conclusion: In this study, articaine showed at least equal efficacy compared to lidocaine. The further dose-controlled study with more pharmacokinetic parameters will be needed.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2010

Background: Articaine, commercially available in South Korea from 2004, is widely being used for dental treatments. In the surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars, one of the most common procedures in oral and maxillofacial surgery, the anesthetic efficacy of 4% articaine and 2% lidocaine, both with 1：100,000 epinephrine, was compared. Methods: A randomized double-blind clinical trial was conducted of 80 patients for bilateral surgical extraction of mandibular third molars with informed consents. One operator carried out the routine surgical procedures using local anesthetic 4% articaine or 2% lidocaine with the same concentration of vasoconstrictor. Latency, duration of anesthesia and the amount of anesthetic solution were recorded. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the intraoperative pain. Results: The pain VAS scores reported similar anesthetic effect with both local anesthetics. Not in the latency of anesthesia and the amount of anesthetic solution, statistically significant difference was found in the mean duration of anesthesia. Conclusions: It was concluded that 4% articaine could offer better or at least the same clinical feasibility compared to 2% lidocaine, particularly in terms of the duration of the local anesthesia for common dental treatments.