“Cryoanalgesic Preparation” Before Local Anaesthetic Injection for Lid Surgery

Abstract

The study shows that "cryopreparation" by local ice application immediately prior to local anaesthetic injection reduces the sensitivity to the injection by a significant 24.6%. Thus while all the advantages of good analgesia are obtained from the injection, the distressing discomfort is reduced. This study serves as a pilot, in demonstrating a novel method of pain control for lid surgery.

The effect of local cooling on pain perception during infiltration of local anaesthetic agents, a prospective randomised controlled trial*

“…No attempt was made to use a fixed volume of infiltrate, to disclose the randomisation procedure, to 'blind' the patients to the research question, to control for rate of infusion or to standardise the technique. Our study extends the findings of Goel and colleagues [29], by demonstrating similar benefits prior to abdominal procedures through the use of cooled packs, thereby diminishing the risks associated with topical ice application.…”

“…However, that study was not a randomised control trial and Harbet did not support his results with objective pain scores. To the best of our knowledge, the application of preinfiltrative topical ice has only been the subject of one previous randomised trial [29]. This recently published study demonstrated the efficacy of cryo-analgesia prior to eyelid surgery, although the study had a number of methodological flaws.…”

“…An extensive literature search has revealed only two reports using pre-operative cooling to modify pain perception associated with infiltration of local anaesthesia [28,29]. Only one of these studies was a randomised trial [29], which focused on pain perception prior to ophthalmic eyelid surgery. However, there have been no reports of local skin cooling prior to infiltration of local anaesthesia in general surgical procedures.…”

“…Attempts have been made to capitalise on these benefits peri-operatively [27]. An extensive literature search has revealed only two reports using pre-operative cooling to modify pain perception associated with infiltration of local anaesthesia [28,29]. Only one of these studies was a randomised trial [29], which focused on pain perception prior to ophthalmic eyelid surgery.…”

The Use of Ice Pack for Pain Associated with Arterial Punctures

“…Several studies support the theory that application of cold decreases nerve conduction, so providing analgesia [13,15,16]. Despite lack of related studies, In a study of 22 patients underwent local lid anaesthetic infiltration, local ice application prior to local anaesthetic injection significantly reduced the pain and discomfort of the injection [17]. Yoon et al, also reported that pretreatment use of ice cubes was effective in reducing pain and discomfort related to intra-dermal skin injection [13].…”