Opioid analgesia for hysterosalpingography: controlled double-blind prospective trial with remifentanil and placebo.
OBJECTIVE
A hysterosalpingogram is an integral part of the evaluation of infertility, however, it is often painful.


METHODS
We conducted a randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of intravenous infusion of remifentanil in women undergoing hysterosalpingography (HSG). We randomly allocated 62 patients scheduled for HSG to receive either a continuous infusion of 0.25 microg.kg(-1) of remifentanil or placebo. The degree of pain was documented via 10-cm visual analog scales (VAS). Patients' discomfort, side effects and recovery times were also recorded.


RESULTS
The VAS scores during HSG were 1.25 +/- 1.31 in the remifentanil group and 4.78 +/- 1.7 in the placebo group (p < 0.001). There were more patients in the remifentanil group that rated their condition as excellent (p < 0.001). The groups did not differ with regard to the incidence of side effects. The recovery times were found statistically longer in the remifentanil group (14 +/- 5 vs. 10 +/- 3 min). All the patients were discharged 30 min after the procedures without any side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Remifentanil infusion during HSG is superior to placebo for relief of pain with minimal opioid side effects.
Cengiz
Mustafa
M
Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Harran University Medical School, Sanliurfa, Turkey. mcgeniz@harran.edu.tr
Kafali
Hasan
H
Artuc
Hulya
H
Baysal
Zeynep
Z
D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007047:Hysterosalpingography / Q000379:methods; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077208:Remifentanil
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D010880:Piperidines; D000077208:Remifentanil