The use of xylocaine to diminish leg cramps in venography.

A double-blind study was performed using the Bettmann-Paulin technique to test the hypothesis that small quantities of Xylocaine mixed with diluted contrast medium would reduce leg cramps in patients during venography. Under random selection, one group of patients received 10 mg/50 ml of Xylocaine per diluted contrast medium; a second group, 20 mg/50 ml; and a third group, plain contrast medium. The findings support the hypothesis, with drug hypersensitivity the only contraindication.