COMPARISON OF THE ANALGESIC EFFICACY OF E MLA(R)-5P-100 CREAM AND LIDOCAINE INFILTRATION FOR BIOPSIES OF THE GENITAL MUCOSA

Objective. To compare the analgesic efficacy of EMLA(R) 5 p. 100 cream versus Xylocaine(R) Ip. 100 infiltration for biopsies of the genital mucosa. Patients and Methods. 63 adult patients were randomized. EMLA( R) (0.3-5g) was applied during 7-12 minutes, and Xylocaine(R) 1 p. 100 (0.2-5 ml) was infiltrated 0-10 minutes before biopsy. Pain during the anaesthetic procedure and the biopsy was assessed by the patient usin g a Visual Analogue Scale. Results. Pain scores were significantly low er with EMLA(R) application than Xylocaine(R) infiltration, but infilt ration resulted in better surgical anaesthesia. The combined pain scor es (anaesthetic procedure and biopsy) were lower in the EMLA(R) group, but this difference failed to reach statistical significance. Conclus ion. EMLA(R) is a less painful anaesthetic procedure than infiltration , but has a lower analgesic efficacy. EMLA(R) can be used as an altern ative to infiltration for biopsies of the genital mucosa.