Effect of pre-mixed lidocaine with propofol on propofol injection pain in elderly patients

The purpose of this study was to compare the younger and older patients in the incidence and the severity of the pain during injection of propofol. Thirty-four, elderly patients (60-80-yr-old) and 52 patients (20-40-yr-old) scheduled to undergo elective surgery were studied. We conducted a prospective, randomized and double-blinded trial. All patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups according to the agents added to 1% propofol 20 ml; Group S, normal saline 2 ml, and Group L, 2% lidocaine 2 ml. The pain on injection was rated as none, mild, moderate, or severe. Seventy percent of patients in the S group of elderly patients experienced pain, while 22% of patients experienced pain in the L group in elderly patients. The incidence of pain on injection in the S group of older patients was comparable with S group of younger patients. The severity of pain in elderly patients was significantly decreased after premixing with lidocaine. There were no significant differences between older and younger patients in the severity of propofol injection pain in both S group and L group. In conclusion, elderly patients suffered the pain on injection of propofol with the same incidence as the younger patients did. Lidocaine premixed with propofol significantly reduces the incidence and the severity of pain associated with propofol in elderly patients.