Effect of a eutectic mixture of local anaesthetic agents (emla) on tourniquet pain in volunteers

Abstract

We studied the effects of EMLA on tourniquet pain in 10 healthy male volunteers. The tourniquet inflation time which was tolerated was significantly longer with EMLA (46.4 (SEM 3.5) min) compared with placebo (37.5 (2.7) min) (P < 0.05). Linear analogue pain scores increased in both groups over the study period, but were significantly less in the EMLA group at 40 min (P < 0.05). We conclude that tourniquet pain has a significant cutaneous component. © 1989 British Journal of Anaesthesia.