Intrauterine lignocaine versus paracervical block for pain relief during cervical dilatation and endometrial curettage

Background
Dilatation and curettage and fractional curettage are commonly performed gynecological procedures. Randomized-controlled trials have concluded that topical anesthesia effectively reduces pain in endometrial sampling and hysteroscopy. A major obstacle to the successful completion of outpatient gynecologic procedures is pain. Most patients can tolerate pain to complete necessary procedures, but studies show that pain scores are often high.
Objective
The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of intrauterine instillation of lidocaine, paracervical block, and a combination of both techniques to control pain during endometrial curettage in a randomized, double-blinded trial in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
Patients and methods
A total of 90 patients scheduled for endometrial curettage were allocated randomly to three groups: group L, group P, and group LP according to the type of anesthesia that was administered. Group L received lidocaine 2% injected into the uterine cavity (=30). Group P received paracervical block (=30). Group LP received combined intrauterine lidocaine and paracervical block (=30). Women were observed for pulse rate and the mean arterial blood pressure was monitored continuously and recorded manually. The pain score assessed using 10 mm visual analog scale. Also, types and incidence of adverse events were reported.
Results
In terms of heart rate changes, there was a statistically significant increase in both groups L and P than group LP. The changes in the mean arterial blood pressure showed no statistical significance difference among the study groups. Statistically significant differences were found in the number of patients who received fentanyl and the total fentanyl required among the three groups; this was less in group LP than the other two groups. Also, the number of patients who received propofol was significantly lower in group LP compared with the other groups. In terms of the quality of intraoperative analgesia, there was statistically significant adequate analgesia in group LP compared with the other groups.
Conclusion
This study concluded that intrauterine lidocaine in combination with paracervical block significantly provides adequate intraoperative and postoperative analgesia, whereas intrauterine lidocaine alone or paracervical block alone provides intraoperative analgesia that requires the addition of intraoperative opioid analgesics and sometimes hypnotics and mostly requires immediate postoperative analgesia.