• J A Davidson and S J Boom.
• Department of Anaesthesia, Western Infirmary, Glasgow.
• BMJ. 1992 Sep 12;305(6854):617-8.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of warming lignocaine on the pain associated with subcutaneous injection.DesignDouble blind, randomised, crossover study.SettingHospital clinic.Subjects40 healthy volunteers.InterventionsSubcutaneous injection with 1 ml of 1% lignocaine at 20 degrees C and 1 ml of 1% lignocaine at 37 degrees C.Main Outcome MeasuresPain assessed by linear analogue pain scores and subjects' comparison of pain on injection.Results25 subjects (89%; 95% confidence interval 72% to 98%) thought that lignocaine at 20 degrees C was more painful and 3 (11%; 2% to 28%) thought that lignocaine at 37 degrees C was more painful (p < 0.0001); 12 subjects did not express a difference. Median pain score for injection at 20 degrees C was 11.00 and at 37 degrees C was 3.25 (p < 0.001). Median difference was 8.25 (4.00 to 13.50).ConclusionsThe simple procedure of warming to 37 degrees C reduced the pain associated with subcutaneous injection of lignocaine.

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