Local anesthesia and pain perception during amniocentesis: a randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of local anesthesia on the maternal pain perception from amniocentesis.


METHODS
We conducted a randomized double blind placebo controlled trial comparing use of local anesthesia (1% lidocaine) with placebo with regards to maternal perception of pain among women undergoing genetic amniocentesis. The primary outcome was the intensity of perceived maternal pain as measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) as well a 101 point Numerical Rating Scale.


RESULTS
Seventy six women participated in the trial. 36 (47.4%) women were randomized to lidocaine, whereas 40 (52.6%) were randomized to placebo. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of baseline sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. However, pain perception as characterized by the median 9.5 (2.1-21.0) VSA scores was significantly lower among women in the lidocaine group compared with among women in the placebo group [18.4 (12.9-31.3), P = 0.005]. Similarly the mean VSA scores was significantly lower in the lidocaine group (P = 0.02). A trend toward lower scores was also observed when maternal pain perception was measured by the Numerical Rating Scale.


CONCLUSIONS
Local anesthetic lidocaine significantly lowers maternal perceived pain during genetic amniocentesis.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, NY, USA.
Andrew
A
Elimian
Jean R
JR
Goodman
Eric
E
Knudtson
Andrew
A
Wagner
Patrick
P
Wilson
Marvin
M
Williams
D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis / Q000379:methods*; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine; D058748:Pain Perception; D010919:Placebos; D011247:Pregnancy
D010919:Placebos; D008012:Lidocaine