Effectiveness of 5% Lidocaine Patch in Post Mastectomy Cancer Pain – A Randomized Controlled Trial

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Effectiveness of 5% Lidocaine Patch in Post Mastectomy Cancer Pain – A Randomized Controlled Trial

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Background: The control of cancer pain still is a significant problem in patients undergoing major oncological surgical procedures. The use of high dose opioids has resulted in multiple side effects. The present study was carried out to analyze the effectiveness of a 5% lidocaine patch in patients with cancer pain undergoing mastectomy. Methods: This was a prospective randomized control trial. Sixty patients were included in the study. Group A patients have 5% lidocaine patch applied, and in Group B, a placebo patch was used. Demographic profile, the severity of pain score, and opioid requirement, at the beginning and conclusion of the treatment, patients’ impression, drug-related side effects all were noted. Results: 60 patients took part in the study, with fourteen days mean follow up. The Mean Verbal Numerical Scale (VNS) score was 3.5 in Group A and 6.76 in Group B at Day 1(P=0.00), and VNS Score was 4.06 in Group A and 7.3 in Group B at Day 5(P=0.00). At days 10 and 14, both the groups had no statistically significant difference in pain score. The opioid requirement in group A was significantly less, the average being 636.67 mg and in Group B being 2123.34 mg. Conclusions: 5 % lidocaine patch was found to be useful for short period management of neuropathic pain along with allodynia derived from a painful scar. But its long term usefulness is yet to be validated.

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