A DOUBLE BLINDED RANDOMIZED STUDY OF EFFECTIVENESS OF HYDROXYETHYL STARCH PRE-ADMINISTRATION IN REDUCING PAIN ON PROPOFOL INJECTION

Dr. Ketki Jandial* and Dr. Mamta Gupta

ABSTRACT

Background: Propofol is an ideal anesthetic agent but the incidence of pain on the intravenous injection of propofol is 30-90%.The immediate pain is due to irritation of the veins and delayed pain may be due to kinin release. Colloids, such as Hyroxyethyl Starch (HES) are used for intra-operative fluid therapy in anaesthesia and are considered to be safe. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence and severity of pain on propofol injection in patients pre-administered either HES 130/0.4 or 0.9% normal saline (NS) bolus during induction of anaesthesia. Method: A prospective randomized placebo-control double-blind study was carried out in the Department of Anesthesia, Government Medical College, Jammu, over a period of 6 months. A total of 100 patients, 18-65years old, of either gender, undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia, were recruited, with 50 each in two groups: one received 100ml of 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 3 to 5 min before propofol injection, and the other received Normal Saline. Results: Both groups were comparable with respect to age, gender, weight and height. None of the patients were lost to follow up. Incidence of pain on injection was significantly lower in group I (14, 28.0%). There were no significant differences in mean arterial pressure and heart rate between the two groups. The effect size for pain between the groups was large (0.73). Conclusion: Pre-administration of 6% HES (130/0.4), 3 to 5 min before propofol injection, significantly decreased the pain on injection with propofol.

Keywords: Adult, adverse effects, injections, pain, propofol.