Effect of i.v. lignocaine on pain and the endocrine metabolic responses after surgery.

Pain intensity, and blood glucose and plasma cortisol concentrations were measured following abdominal hysterectomy in 18 patients allocated randomly to receive either i.v. lignocaine 1.5 mg kg-1 plus 2 mg kg-1 h-1, or saline. The administration of lignocaine resulted in plasma concentrations between 1.5 and 2.0 micrograms ml-1 during the 2-h study period. However, the administration of lignocaine i.v. had no effect on the intensity of pain after surgery, or on the adrenocortical and hyperglycaemic responses to surgery.