Comparison of the effect of three methods of using topical lidocaine gel into cervix, intrauterine infusion of lidocaine and combination of them on reducing the pain during curettage.

Objectives: this study compares the efficacy of the intracervical application of lidocaine gel, the intrauterine infusion of lidocaine, and the co-administration of these procedures in alleviating pain during curettage. Design: it was a unicentric, randomized, and unblinded study. Population: pregnant women (n=120) with a dilated cervix, in the 8th-13th week of pregnancy and hospitalized in Kowsar Hospital in Qazvin participated in the study. Inclusion and exclusion criteria: being in the 8th-13th week of pregnancy and having a dilated cervix were the inclusion criteria. Using an analgesic 24 hours before curettage and having genital infections, severe uterine bleeding, drug addiction, and a history of allergy to lidocaine were set as the exclusion criteria. Setting: the subjects were assigned to three groups. Group 1 received an intrauterine lidocaine infusion and intracervical lidocaine gel. An intrauterine lidocaine infusion and placebo gel were administered to the second group. Group 3 received intracervical lidocaine gel and an intrauterine infusion of normal saline. Interventions: in the first group, 5 cc of 2% lidocaine was intrauterinally infused and 3 cc of the lidocaine gel was applied over the cervix. In the second group, 5 cc of 2% lidocaine was intrauterinally infused and 3 cc of the placebo gel was applied over the cervix. In the third group, 5 cc of normal saline was intrauterinally infused and 3 cc of the lidocaine gel was applied over the cervix. Primary outcome variables: exploring the effectiveness of local analgesia during curettage and obviating the need for general anesthesia.

Vice Chancellor for Research and technology, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences