Intradermal anaesthesia: comparison of several compounds

Objective: To compare the efficacy of different local anaesthetics to produce intradermal anaesthesia for venous cannulation and the discomfort associated with skin infiltration.
Measurements: A visual analog scale (VAS) for pain (0 = no pain/10 = most pain imaginable) was used to assess pain elicited by raising the skin wheal and inserting the cannula.
Main results: With regard to analgesic potency all five local anaesthetics were comparable (mean VAS–score 1.7–2.09) and effective when compared to 0.9% saline (mean VAS–score 4.2; P < 0.001). Infiltration pain was least with mepivacaine–1 (mean VAS–score 1.0; P < 0.001) and highest with procaine (mean VAS score 2.7; P < 0.001).