Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the lidocaine/tetracaine patch for induction of local anesthesia prior to minor dermatologic procedures in geriatric patients. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: Topical anesthetics offer a noninvasive method of anesthesia. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the lidocaine/tetracaine patch, a 1:1 (wt:wt) eutectic mixture of lidocaine and tetracaine, for local anesthesia before minor dermatologic procedures in geriatric patients. METHODS: In a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 79 patients over the age of 65 years received a 30-minute application of either the lidocaine/tetracaine patch or placebo immediately before a shave biopsy or superficial excision. The primary measure of efficacy was patient assessment of procedural pain using the visual analog scale (VAS). Secondary efficacy end points included patient, investigator, and independent observer assessments. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference (p = .041) in patient ratings of pain by VAS score in the active group (9.5 mm) compared with the placebo group (22.5 mm). None of the secondary end points showed a statistically significant difference between groups. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: The lidocaine/tetracaine patch is a safe and effective method for noninvasive induction of local anesthesia for minor dermatologic procedures in patients over the age of 65 years.

publication date

  • March 1, 2005

Research

keywords

  • Anesthetics, Local
  • Lidocaine
  • Skin Diseases
  • Tetracaine

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 18244390990

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2005.31075

PubMed ID

  • 15841628

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 31

issue

  • 3