Abstract
Purpose: To demonstrate the effectiveness of alkalinized local anaesthetic (LA) over plain LA in interventional radiology (IR) procedures, in terms of pain experienced by patient, and times of onset of LA action.
Materials and Methods: 34 patients requiring 2 endovascular access sites, within the same procedure (arterio-venous fistula salvage or bilateral iliac angioplasty/ stenting) were included in the study, 17 patients for each intervention. Alkalinized LA was infiltrated at one site, and plain LA at the other. Pain experienced (on the National Institute of Health numeric pain scale) was compared on LA infiltration and sheath placement for endovascular access, and the time of anesthesia onset was measured.
Results: A statistically significant difference was demonstrated in the amount of pain experienced by the patients, with a preference for alkalinized LA, which was also observed to have a quicker onset of action.
Conclusion: Use of alkalinized LA in IR procedures is effective, inexpensive and safe.
Keywords
Lidocaine, Local Anesthetic, Alkalinizing, Buffering, Sodium Bicarbonate, Pain, Interventional Radiology, Endovascular