Is lidocaine infiltration during femoral sheath removal really necessary?

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness of intravenous morphine sulfate to intravenous morphine sulfate plus 1 % lidocaine infiltration in pain management associated with femoral sheath removal, and to evaluate pain intensity and associated complications during femoral sheath removal in patients with heart disease receiving interventional treatment. : Descriptive, correlational, case-control study. G: Mid-metropolitan, university-affiliated, tertiary care medical center. : Fifty patients with heart disease, who had no known allergies to morphine or lidocaine and who had not had an acute myocardial infarction, admitted to the cardiovascular intervention unit. ES: Vertical visual analogue scale, short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire, and demographic tool for complications. S: No significant differences in pain intensity, sensation, affect, and total scores were found between the analgesic regimens. Six (12%) patients had vasovagal reactions develop, but no statistical differences were found between pain intensity scores and associated complications. SION: Morphine sulfate does appear effective in controlling pain associated with femoral sheath removal. The benefit of lidocaine infiltration during this procedure is questionable.