Effects of different lidocaine sprays for topical anesthesia on cardiovascular parameters and oxygen saturation.

The effects of three lidocaine-containing solutions with and without frigen (freon-113) as a propellant on cardiovascular parameters and oxygen saturation, after different waiting periods and with different dosages applied, were investigated in 130 outpatients undergoing dental treatment in the maxilla under local anesthesia. They were divided randomly into five groups: (A) Xylocaine spray with frigen, two applications (20 mg lidocaine); (B) Xylestesin spray with frigen, two applications (14 mg lidocaine); (C) Xylestesin spray with frigen, three applications (21 mg lidocaine); (D) Xylestesin pump spray without frigen, two applications (14 mg lidocaine); and (E) no topical anesthesia. They were further divided into 12 subgroups to evaluate the influence of waiting periods between the application of the local anesthetic and the injection (1, 2, or 3 minutes). Without topical anesthesia and after the 1-minute waiting period, cardiovascular parameters increased immediately after the injection; after 2- and 3-minute waiting periods the increases were far less pronounced. The mean oxygen saturations did not change during the observed period. The higher lidocaine dosage administered (21 mg) did not intensify the positive impact on the cardiovascular parameters compared to the lower dosage (14 mg). The new pump spray without frigen proved to be as effective as the traditional, ecologically harmful aerosol sprays.