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Assessment of the Efficacy of Topical Anesthetics Using the Tactile Spatial Resolution Method
Marcin Fraczek
; Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Wroclaw Medical University Hospital 213 Borowska Street 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
Anete Demidas
; Department of Electrotherapy, Faculty of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education, Wroclaw, Poland
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the purported advantages
of 4% tetracaine gel (Ametop gel) and 4% liposomal lidocaine gel (LMX4 gel)
with EMLA cream (eutectic mixture of 2.5% lidocaine and 2.5% prilocaine)
using an objective and repeatable method. Ametop gel and LMX4 gel were
administered under occlusion for 30 min and compared to EMLA cream applied
for 30 and 60 min on the intact upper lip skin of 15 volunteers each.
The efficacy of the anesthetics was assessed by the spatial resolution method.
Measurements were conducted just after removal of the products from the
skin, then 20, 40 and 60 min later. Each of the formulations, except for EMLA
cream applied for 30 min, decreased tactile spatial discrimination thresholds
significantly just after removal from the skin when compared to the output
levels (p<0.05). Ametop gel kept significantly good skin anesthesia also 20,
40 and 60 min later (p<0.05). The efficacy of LMX4 gel and EMLA60
cream decreased
to the initial levels after 40-min application. Ametop gel anesthetized
the skin in a highly homogeneous manner providing similar effect in most
subjects, which was not the case in the EMLA and LMX4 groups. In conclusion,
LMX4 gel and Ametop gel appeared to be faster acting than EMLA cream. Our
results showed the 30-min application of LMX4 and Ametop gel under occlusion
to be equivalent to 60-min administration of EMLA cream. Ametop gel, in
contrast to the rest, provides very good anesthesia for up to 60 min. The application
of EMLA cream under occlusion over only 30 min cannot guarantee
appropriate effects.
Keywords
tetracaine; liposomal lidocaine; EMLA; spatial resolution method; topical anesthesia
Hrčak ID:
89076
URI
Publication date:
16.4.2012.
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