Clinical Uses of Intravenous Procaine

Abstract

This monograph contains a rather concise review of the pertinent literature with a fairly complete bibliography. Inasmuch as the authors have had much clinical experience in the intravenous use of procaine, it is not at all surprising that their method of presentation conveys the impression that the procedure is already rather well established in the treatment of a variety of conditions. Much of the evidence offered in support of the various uses for intravenously administered procaine is not critically evaluated. Thus, intravenous administration of the drug is seemingly advocated for local anesthesia, pruritus, serum sickness and other states of sensitivity, analgesia in burns and postoperative pain, acute arrhythmias during anesthesia, pain in traumatic and inflammatory conditions, acute anterior poliomyelitis and certain other conditions. In general, the investigative work in this regard appears to be lacking in adequate control'measures. Necessary comparative studies of intravenously administered procaine with other well established methods