Randomized trial of lidocaine ointment versus placebo for the treatment of postpartum perineal pain
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the efficacy of lidocaine ointment in relieving pain after a vaginal delivery with an episiotomy or perineal laceration. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 200 women received lidocaine ointment ( n = 108) or a placebo ( n = 92). Pain relief was a...
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Published in | Obstetrics and gynecology (New York. 1953) Vol. 100; no. 6; pp. 1239 - 1243 |
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Main Authors | , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
United States
Elsevier Inc
01.12.2002
by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | OBJECTIVE:
To estimate the efficacy of lidocaine ointment in relieving pain after a vaginal delivery with an episiotomy or perineal laceration.
METHODS:
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 200 women received lidocaine ointment (
n = 108) or a placebo (
n = 92). Pain relief was assessed by the amount of ointment used (weight of jar before use − weight of jar after use), total number of pain pills used, and a pain questionnaire. The sample size was calculated using a β of .2 and an α of .05 with an expected reduction of other pain medications from an average use of six pills to four pills for the population.
RESULTS:
There was no significant difference in the amount of lidocaine versus placebo used for postpartum day 1 (5.1 g versus 4.0 g, respectively [
P = .13]) or day 2 (3.7 g versus 2.6 g, respectively [
P = .18]). Patients receiving lidocaine instead of the placebo showed no significant difference in the total amount of postpartum pain medications (6.3 versus 6.8 tablets, respectively [
P = .53]), subjective pain parameters (
P = .36), or satisfaction from ointment (
P = .99). Patients with an episiotomy used more pain medications than those with a laceration (7.9 versus 5.6 tablets, respectively [
P = .003]). Those with minor versus major lacerations required fewer pain pills (6.1 versus 10.8 tablets, respectively [
P < .001]) and used less ointment (4.3 g versus 7.9 g, respectively [
P = .02]) on the first postpartum day.
CONCLUSION:
Topical application of 5% lidocaine ointment was not effective in relieving episiotomy or perineal laceration pain. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 ObjectType-News-3 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0029-7844 1873-233X |
DOI: | 10.1016/S0029-7844(02)02339-6 |