MAY 2008, VOLUME 36, NUMBER 2, Abstract 14
The Effects of Awake-Suggestion on Pain During Intravenous Injection of Propofol: A Pilot Observational Study
Gillian M. Hood, Southern Group of Anaesthetic Specialists, Adelaide
Allan M. Cyna, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide
It seems that negative suggestions during intravenous induction of anaesthesia with propofol are likely to increase patient responses to pain. In our study, randomly assigned patients awaiting elective diagnostic and/or therapeutic procedures received a communication immediately prior to, and during, IV injection of propofol. These consisted of either a negative suggestion of a warning of “strong pain” (NS) or a positive suggestion of a “warm strong pressure sensation” (PS). Scoring of pain response was by observation of patient facial expressions, vocalisation, and limb rubbing or withdrawal. We found that 20/29 patients (69%) in the NS group appeared to experience pain on injection of propofol. Only 7/28 patients (25%) in the PS group appeared to experience pain. These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.01).