Should lidocaine routinely be used to prevent pain on propofol injection during induction of general anaesthesia or sedation?

Anaesthetists commonly debate whether lidocaine should be added to propofol for anaesthetic induction. The benefits include pain relief and improved patient satisfaction, but disadvantages include the effect on the emulsion itself, the efficacy of propofol once it has been mixed, and the effect on growth of bacteria in the syringe.

Automated summary

Anaesthetists often discuss the pros and cons of adding lidocaine to propofol for anaesthetic induction, weighing the benefits of pain relief and patient satisfaction against potential drawbacks such as effects on the emulsion, efficacy of propofol post-mixing, and bacterial growth in the syringe.