Vapocoolant Spray as a Novel Local Anesthetic for Cutaneous Abscess Incision and Drainage

Hypotheses: Patients would have a similar amount of pain with incision and drainage using local infiltration of anesthetic as with application of a vapocoolant spray and the pain of the administration of anesthesia would be similar or reduced with the use of the vapocoolant spray. Specific aims: 1.Non-inferiority in pain of anesthesia administration and incision and drainage of small abscesses by finding no significant difference of patient pain as measured on the VRNS scale. 2. Show that patients were willing to undergo anesthesia again with a vapocoolant spray as assesed by the Likert scale Long term goals- To implement the use of vapocoolant sprays as an alternative form of anesthesia for incision and drainage of abscesses The primary outcome measure for this study would be the finding of no significant difference in the pain as measured by the VRNS between the two arms for administration of anesthesia. Secondary measures would be finding no significant difference in VRNS for incisional and drainage, and change in VRNS from presentation to anesthesia, and to incision and drainage, willingness of the patient to choose the allocated sprayin the future, and unexpected events. Initial medical assessment will be made by an attending/senior resident in accordance with established clinical procedures, including the history, physical examination, and vital signs. If by clinical assessment the patients meet eligibility criteria, then they will be approached by a research associate for screening, informed consent process, enrollment in the study, and data collection. Following the screening questionnaire, the research associate will hold thorough discussion about the study. The patients will be given as much time as they require to understand and make an informed decision. A formal written consent will be obtained if patients agree to participate. After the patient understands and signs the informed consent form, they will be randomized to either the placebo group or treatment group by using a randomization scheme. The treating physician will measure erythema and induration using a measuring tape, estimate the amount of fluctuance as small, moderate, or large, and note the location of the abscess. Once randomized, subjects will be given a VRNS scale to rate their pain upon initial presentation The treating physician will clean the abscess with chlorhexidine solution then either spray the skin overlying the abscess with 1,1,1,3,3-Pentafluoropropane and 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane spray (Gebauer's Pain Ease® Medium Stream Spray) at a distance of 12 cm from the site for a duration of 2 seconds or infiltrate the abscess with 2% lidocaine with epinepherine (amount determinted by treating physician). Any reactions to the vapocoolant administration will be noted. The abscess will then be incised with a No. 11 surgical scalpel, and a cotton tipped applicator will be used to break up loculations within the abscess cavity. The method of I&D, and decision to probe to break-up loculations will be standardized, but the degree of probing, and decision to pack will be left to the discretion of the treating physician. Subjects will be asked by the research assistant to describe the discomfort of the abscess using the Visual Numerical Rating Scale (VRNS) during vapocoolant administration, during incision of the abscess, and after the procedure is complete.