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  • The Addition of Epinephrine to Proxymetacaine or Oxybuprocaine Solution Increases the Depth and Duration of Cutaneous Analgesia in Rats

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Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain: Original Articles
The Addition of Epinephrine to Proxymetacaine or Oxybuprocaine Solution Increases the Depth and Duration of Cutaneous Analgesia in Rats
  1. Yu-Wen Chen, PhD*,†,
  2. Chong-Chi Chiu, MD‡,§,
  3. Chung-Dann Kan, MD∥,
  4. Jhi-Joung Wang, MD, PhD† and
  5. Ching-Hsia Hung, PhD**,†,†
  1. From the *Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Care, China Medical University, Taichung; †Department of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan; ‡Department of General Surgery, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan and Liouying; §Department of Electrical Engineering, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan; and ∥Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, **Department of Physical Therapy, and ††Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
  1. Address correspondence to: Ching-Hsia Hung, PhD, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No.1 Ta-Hsueh Rd, Tainan, Taiwan (e-mail: chhung@mail.ncku.edu.tw).

Abstract

Background The aim of this experiment was to investigate the interaction between epinephrine and 2 local anesthetics (proxymetacaine or oxybuprocaine) using subcutaneous injections under the hairy skin, thereby simulating infiltration blocks.

Methods Using a rat model of cutaneous trunci muscle reflex in response to local skin pinpricks, the anesthetic properties of proxymetacaine and oxybuprocaine alone and in combination with epinephrine as an infiltrative anesthetic were tested. Isobolographic analysis was used for the analgesic interactions between adjuvant epinephrine and the local anesthetics. Lidocaine was used as a control group.

Results Oxybuprocaine, proxymetacaine, and lidocaine elicited a dose-dependent block to pinpricks. On the 50% effective dose (ED50) basis, their relative potencies were proxymetacaine [0.126 (0.113–0.141) μmol] greater than oxybuprocaine [0.208 (0.192–0.226) μmol] greater than lidocaine [6.331 (5.662–7.079) μmol] (P < 0.01 for each comparison). On an equipotent basis (ED25, ED50, and ED75), sensory block duration elicited by oxybuprocaine or proxymetacaine was greater than that elicited by lidocaine (P < 0.01). Coadministration of proxymetacaine, oxybuprocaine, or lidocaine with epinephrine produced a synergistic analgesic effect and prolonged the cutaneous analgesic effect. After adding epinephrine, oxybuprocaine was much faster, reaching its maximal blockade, than proxymetacaine or lidocaine (P < 0.01).

Conclusions We concluded that proxymetacaine and oxybuprocaine were more potent and produced greater duration of nociceptive block than lidocaine. The use of epinephrine augmented the potency and prolonged the duration of proxymetacaine, oxybuprocaine, and lidocaine as an infiltrative anesthetic.

https://doi.org/10.1097/AAP.0000000000000446

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    Footnotes

    • The authors declare no conflict of interest.

      Supported by grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (MOST 103-2314-B-384-004-MY3 and MOST 104-2314-B-039-017-MY3).

      Ching-Hsia Hung and Jhi-Joung Wang contributed equally to this work.