Addition of Lidocaine to the Distension Medium in Hysteroscopy Decreases Pain during the Procedure-A Randomized Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial

Abstract

Study objective: To evaluate the effect of adding a local anesthetic to the distension medium in office diagnostic hysteroscopy using the vaginoscopic approach on pain during the procedure. Secondary aims included documenting side effects, patient satisfaction, and the time needed to complete the procedure.

Design: Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study.

Setting: University-affiliated hospital; office hysteroscopy clinic.

Patients: Total of 100 patients who underwent office hysteroscopies divided in half with 50 in the intervention group and 50 in the control group.

Interventions: Ten mL of lidocaine 2% added to 1000 mL of saline solution that was used as the distension medium for hysteroscopy in the study group vs 1000 mL of saline alone in the control group.

Measurements and main results: A significant difference was found in the increment of pain as measured by visual analog scale after the hysteroscopy between the 2 groups. Patients receiving lidocaine had an average rise of 1.9 in the visual analog scale score after the procedure compared with 2.9 in the control group (p = .033). There was also a nonsignificant trend for shorter duration of hysteroscopy in the intervention group compared with the control group (180.1 vs 222.1 seconds, p = .08). Patients' satisfaction was high in both groups (98% for the study group and 92% for the control group). Success rates were also similar between the 2 groups at approximately 95%. No side effects were recorded in either group.

Conclusion: The addition of local anesthetic to the distension medium in office hysteroscopy produces significant reduction in pain during the procedure without adding time to the procedure and without side effects.

Keywords: Anesthesia; Diagnostic; Office hysteroscopy; Outpatient; Vaginoscopic approach.