title: Lidocaine versus plain saline for pain relief in fractional curettage: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: 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 lidocaine group and 70 to the plain saline group. The main outcome measure was the intensity of pain measured by visual analog scale during and after the procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intensity of pain was significantly lower in the lidocaine group than in the plain saline group over the course of the procedure (P = .02), especially during fractional curettage. There were no serious adverse effects in this study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lidocaine is more effective than plain saline for paracervical pain relief during fractional curettage. The anesthetic mechanisms of lidocaine are mechanical distention of tissue and peripheral nerve block.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. rabcr@mahidol.ac.th
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chanrachakul
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Likittanasombut
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O-Prasertsawat
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Herabutya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010919:Placebos / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012996:Solutions
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D010919:Placebos; D012996:Solutions; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D008012:Lidocaine