THE EFFECT OF TOPICAL 20-PERCENT BENZOCAINE ON PAIN DURING LOOP ELECTROSURGICAL EXCISION OF THE CERVIX

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the effect of cervical applicat ion of 20% benzocaine on the pain associated with subsequent cervical injection of local anesthetic and tissue excision during the loop elec trosurgical excision procedure of the cervix. STUDY DESIGN: Fifty cons ecutive women scheduled for loop electrosurgical excision were randomi zed by use of computer-generated numbers to receive cervical applicati on of either 20% benzocaine or placebo gel in a double-blinded fashion . A visual analog scale was used to measure the pain associated with b oth cervical injection of local anesthetic and tissue excision. RESULT S: Lower mean pain scores were associated with the use of benzocaine g el for both anesthetic injection and tissue excision, but these scores did not reach statistical significance in either group. CONCLUSION: P reoperative cervical application of 20% benzocaine does not appear to reduce the pain associated with either subsequent local anesthetic inj ection or tissue excision during the loop electrosurgical excision pro cedure of the cervix.