A small trial compared two methods of numbing the skin during lipoma removal. One group received a block with bupivacaine and adrenaline, while the other received bupivacaine alone. Both groups had ultrasound guidance for the injection.
The study included 40 adults scheduled for elective surgery. Researchers measured blood loss, how long the operation took, and pain levels at 2, 6, and 24 hours after the procedure.
Patients in the adrenaline group reported significantly less pain at all three time points. They also lost less blood during surgery and needed fewer extra pain medicines afterward. The surgery took less time, and surgeons found the tissue easier to separate.
A few patients in the adrenaline group developed minor hematomas, but this happened less often than in the group without adrenaline. No serious safety problems were seen. Because the study involved only 40 people, these results should be viewed as early evidence.