title: [Evaluation of pain in diagnostic hysteroscopy by vaginoscopy using normal saline at body temperature as distension medium: a randomized controlled trial].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to compare diagnostic hysteroscopy through vaginoscopy, using warm saline solution, with traditional technique, regarding to pain, patient satisfaction and feasibility of the procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  randomized clinical trial, involving 184 women, referred for diagnostic hysteroscopy, between May and December of 2006. Participants were randomized to be submitted to hysteroscopy by the proposed technique, which consisted of access through vaginoscopy using normal saline at 36 degrees C as distension medium, no speculum or cervical grasping, or by the traditional technique with CO2. In both techniques, a 2.7 mm hysteroscope was used. Pain was assessed by the analogical visual scale, during the procedure and every five minutes after it.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the mean pain score was 1.60 in the proposed technique and 3.39 in the traditional technique (p<0.01). Lower pain scores were also observed after 5, 10 and 15 minutes (p<0,01) as well as after 20 minutes (p=0.056). In the proposed technique, 82.4% of the procedures were feasible, while, in the traditional technique, 84.9% were so (p=0.64). Satisfaction with the procedure was referred by 88.7% of women submitted to the proposed technique and by 76.3% of women submitted to the traditional technique (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  diagnostic hysteroscopy by the proposed technique resulted in less pain, same feasibility and greater satisfaction of patients.
authors.affiliation: Maternidade Bandeira Filho, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Zares Maria Melo Cavalcanti de
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Rosângela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pontes
authors.forename: Hélio de Lima Ferreira Fernandes
authors.initials: Hde L
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D001831:Body Temperature; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D014621:Vagina
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride