Local anesthetic reduces the pain of colposcopic biopsies: a randomized trial.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to determine whether administration of local anesthetic reduces pain associated with colposcopically directed cervical biopsies.


METHODS
Fifty-six patients undergoing colposcopically directed cervical biopsies were randomly selected prospectively to receive a 1% lidocaine injection or no injection before the biopsy procedure. Pain was assessed by using a 10-cm visual analog scale at various points during the procedure. Data were analyzed with the Student t test.


RESULTS
Injection of lidocaine resulted in a reduction in pain scores for cervical biopsies (4.004 to 1.166, P: <.001), endocervical curettage (5.757 to 3.900, P =.0018), and overall procedure scores (4.911 to 3.145, P =.0013).


CONCLUSIONS
This pilot study demonstrates that injection of local anesthetic at the site of colposcopically direct cervical biopsies decreases the pain perceived by patients.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, HI, USA.
Ian A
IA
Oyama
Mark T
MT
Wakabayashi
LeighAnn C
LC
Frattarelli
Bruce
B
Kessel
D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D003127:Colposcopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D003475:Curettage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine