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Effect of Anesthetic Technique on Acute Formalin-induced Pain in Mice
  1. E. S. Fu, M.D. and
  2. J. E. Scharf, M.D.
  1. Department of Anesthesiology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
  1. Reprint requests: E. S. Fu, M.D., Department of Anesthesiology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, MDC 59, Tampa, FL 33612-4799.

Abstract

Background and Objectives. The aim of this study was to determine if anesthetic technique influences the degree of acute formalin-induced pain in mice.

Methods. Mice were randomized to receive either combined spinal/general anesthesia or general anesthesia prior to a subcutaneous injection of formalin in a hindpaw. The mice in the combined spinal/general anesthesia group received halothane anesthesia and subarachnoid lidocaine. The mice in the general anesthesia group received halothane anesthesia only. After the mice recovered from anesthesia, paw-licking behavior was recorded for 1 hour. A statistical comparison was made using analysis of variance and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test.

Results. The mice in the combined spinal/general anesthesia group (n = 20) had a significantly shorter time to first paw lick (mean ± SD) after formalin injection compared to the mice in the general anesthesia group (n = 20) (16.1 ± 4.5 vs. 22.1 ± 6.3 min, P = .002). No difference was observed in the number of paw licks in the mice receiving either combined spinal/general anesthesia or general anesthesia (40 ± 15 vs. 44 ± 18, P = .47). No difference was observed in the duration of paw licking in either group (231 ± 76 vs. 237 ± 124 s, P = .84).

Conclusions. The administration of a pre-emptive subarachnoid lidocaine block in the combined spinal/general anesthesia group did not reduce the degree of formalin-induced paw-licking behavior. Combined spinal/general anesthesia did not decrease acute formalin-induced pain in mice.

  • pre-emptive analgesia
  • formalin-induced pain
  • spinal anesthesia
  • regional anesthesia

https://doi.org/10.1136/rapm-00115550-199520030-00007

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    Footnotes

    • Presented in part at the 1993 Meeting of the International Anesthesia Research Society in San Diego, California.

      This work was done at the Animal Laboratory Facility, Department of Anesthesiology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida.