SPINAL ANALGESIA FOR TRANSVAGINAL OOCYTE RETRIEVAL

Day case transvaginal ultrasound-guided needle puncture is currently t he method of choice for oocyte retrieval. The risk of morbidity from t his procedure increases with sudden patient movement in response to ne edle manipulation. The provision of effective pain relief can limit th is risk, but is complicated by the need to balance efficacy with day c ase compatibility. The aim of this pilot study was to establish whethe r spinal analgesia using a mixture of bupivacaine and fentanyl could b e useful in this context. The results identify several advantages of t his technique over current clinical practice, and merit further compar ative investigation.