Conscious sedation versus general anaesthesia for minilaparoscopic gamete intra-Fallopian transfer: a prospective randomized study

BACKGROUND: Gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) is a successful techniqu e for infertile women, and is performed almost exclusively by laparoscopy u nder general anaesthesia. METHODS: We performed a prospective randomized st udy of 67 infertile patients to assess the efficacy of minilaparoscopic GIF T under conscious sedation/local anaesthesia (group A) compared with genera l anaesthesia (group B). Operative and discharge times and pregnancy outcom e were evaluated in both groups. RESULTS: Operative time was similar in bot h groups. The rate of patients discharged 2 h after surgery was significant ly higher in group A. The necessity for postoperative analgesics was signif icantly higher in group B. No significant differences were noted between th e two study groups in terms of pregnancy outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Conscious se dation and local anaesthesia will allow us to perform an outpatient minilap aroscopic GIFT without the need for general anaesthesia. The simplicity of the method, and the quicker discharge time in comparison with general anaes thesia, offer a detectable benefit for patients.