Ethyl chloride spray to reduce injection pain during Mohs surgery

Ethyl Chloride Spray to Reduce Pain From Local Anesthesia During Mohs Micrographic Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Early Phase 1 Interventional University of California, Davis · NCT06920381

This will test whether spraying ethyl chloride on the skin before local anesthesia reduces injection pain for patients having Mohs micrographic surgery with Dr. Daniel Eisen at UC Davis.

Quick facts

PhaseEarly Phase 1
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment80 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of California, Davis Academic / other
Locations1 site (Sacramento, California)
Trial IDNCT06920381 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This early-phase interventional study will try using Gebauer's ethyl chloride topical spray applied immediately before local anesthetic injections to reduce pain during Mohs micrographic surgery. Enrollment is limited to patients scheduled with Dr. Daniel Eisen at UC Davis whose pre-operative tumor measures at least 1.5 cm. The spray is applied at the procedure site prior to injections and patient-reported injection pain will be recorded to determine any difference. Patients with cold-sensitive skin disorders, periocular treatment sites, or recent anxiolytic use are excluded and the work is conducted at a single center in Sacramento, California.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients scheduled for Mohs micrographic surgery with Dr. Daniel Eisen at UC Davis whose pre-op tumor is at least 1.5 cm and who do not have cold-related skin disorders or recent anxiolytic use.

Not a fit: Patients with tumors smaller than 1.5 cm, lesions around the eyes, cold-sensitive skin disorders, or who have taken anxiolytics within the past four hours are excluded and unlikely to receive benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the spray could reduce injection pain and related anxiety during Mohs procedures, improving patient comfort and the clinic experience.

How similar studies have performed: Pre-cooling and cryotherapy methods have shown some benefit in other injection-pain settings, but ethyl chloride specifically has limited published trial data and is relatively untested in Mohs surgery.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* All patients scheduled for MMS with Dr. Daniel Eisen at UC Davis Health Department of Dermatology (3301 C St #1300-1400, Sacramento, CA 95816)
* Pre-op tumor size at least 1.5 cm (measured on day of procedure)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Skin disorders related to cold temperatures (i.e. cryoglobulinemia)
* Anxiolytic medication within past 4 hours
* Treatment sites around the eyes
* Pre-op tumor size smaller than 1.5 cm (measured on day of procedure)

Where this trial is running

Sacramento, California

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions SurgeryMohs micrographic surgeryEthyl Chloride Spray
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.