Topical anaesthesia for minor lacerations: MAC versus TAC
by
Kuhn M, Rossi SO, Plummer JL, Raftos J.
Emergency Department,
Flinders Medical Centre,
Adelaide, SA Australia.
Med J Aust. 1996 Mar 4;164(5):277-80

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a solution of bupivacaine Marcain [Astra]), adrenaline and cocaine (MAC) is as safe and effective as tetracaine, adrenaline and cocaine (TAC) as topical anaesthesia for wound suturing. DESIGN: Double-blind, randomised, prospective trial. SETTING: Emergency departments of two tertiary referral hospitals (one specialising in paediatric care) in Adelaide, South Australia, between February 1992 and April 1994. PARTICIPANTS: 181 patients, aged six or older, with simple dermal lacerations less than 5mm deep, not involving mucous membranes or areas with end-arterial blood supply. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received a weight-adjusted dose of either MAC or TAC. OUTCOME MEASURES: Needle-prick testing of wound for pain before suturing, pain ratings by patients and physicians during suturing, signs and symptoms of cocaine toxicity, wound complications and patient preference for topical anaesthesia. RESULTS: Topical anaesthesia was adequate for suturing in 73% of patients (83% or those with head wounds and 56% of those with extremity wounds). MAC and TAC did not differ significantly in efficacy overall or by wound location. Pain ratings from patients treated with MAC and TAC were comparable, as was patients acceptance of topical anesthesia (77%, MAC; 81%, TAC) and the incidence of adverse effects (4% infection rate overall). CONCLUSIONS: Topical anesthesia is a safe and effective means of anaesthetising selected lacerations for suturing. As we found no significant differences in either the efficacy or safety of the two solutions, we believe that MAC can be substituted for the less readily available TAC whenever expedient.

TAC
History
Acupuncture
Dopaminergic flies?
Dopaminergic agents
Karl Koller and cocaine
Local anaesthesia: from cocaine to ropivacaine
Tetracaine-adrenaline-cocaine (TAC) compared

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Refs
HOME
HedWeb
cannabis-marijuana.com
Future Opioids
BLTC Research
Wirehead Hedonism
The Hedonistic Imperative
Anaesthetics and Anaesthesia
MDMA: Utopian Pharmacology
When Is It Best to Take Crack Cocaine?

The Good Drug Guide
The Responsible Parent's Guide To
Healthy Mood Boosters For All The Family