Lidocaine versus plain saline for pain relief in fractional curettage: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficiency of lidocaine with that of plain saline for paracervical pain relief during fractional curettage. METHODS: This double-blind, randomized, controlled trial included 140 women who underwent fractional curettage. Seventy women were allocated to the li docaine group and 70 to the plain saline group. The main outcome measure wa s the intensity of pain measured by visual analog scale during and after th e procedure. RESULTS: The intensity of pain was significantly lower in the lidocaine gro up than in the plain saline group over the course of the procedure (P = .02 ), especially during fractional curettage. There were no serious adverse ef fects in this study. CONCLUSION: Lidocaine is more effective than plain saline for paracervical pain relief during fractional curettage. The anesthetic mechanisms of lidoc aine arc mechanical distention of tissue and peripheral nerve block. (C) 20 01 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.