[Effect of local cooling at injection site of goserelin acetate for pain relief].

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the usefulness of ice cubes and vapocoolant spray for relieving pain induced by goserelin acetate injections.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Fourty-seven patients with prostate cancer receiving hormonal manipulation by goserelin acetate were enrolled in this study. They received goserelin acetate injections after analgesic pretreatments with ice cubes until March 2009, and with vapocoolant spray and ethyl chroride after April 2009. We had them fill out a questionnaire asking whether they preferred to continue cooling pretreatments. We assessed the pricking pain using the face scale(FS)and the numerical rating scale(NRS).

RESULT

The median FS and NRS scores at the first pretreatment(ice cube or vapocoolant spray)were lower than those at no pretreatment(p<0. 01 in both scores). Thirty-nine patients(83. 0%)preferred cooling pretreatment. Only 5 patients preferred no pretreatment. The differences in the median FS score and NRS score between ice cubes and vapocoolant spray were not significant(p=0. 353 in FS, p=0. 120 in NRS). No adverse events associated with the cooling pretreatment occurred except for late-onset subcutaneous hemorrhages in 2 cases.

CONCLUSION

The local cooling at the injection site of goserelin acetate was effective irrespective of the method(ice cube or vapocoolant spray)for the relief of pricking pain without causing serious complications.