Efficacy and safety of promethazine hydrochloride as a local anaesthetic agent for inguinal hernia repair: a pilot study.

Promethazine hydrochloride is known to possess properties as a local anaesthetic which scientists have not researched well. Therefore, a prospective, randomised, double-blind clinical study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of promethazine hydrochloride compared to lignocaine hydrochloride, when used as a local anaesthetic agent. Twenty adult male patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair were included in the study. Regional nerve block technique was employed in all the patients. Efficacy of the agents was assessed on a four-point scale and by recording the pulse and the blood pressure. Promethazine hydrochloride was found to be as effective as lignocaine hydrochloride in terms of the intensity and the duration of regional anaesthesia produced. None of the patients from either group required additional anaesthesia in any form, and no complications were witnessed. To conclude, promethazine hydrochloride appears to be a safe alternative to lignocaine hydrochloride for performing surgery under regional anaesthesia.