Local anesthetic reduces the pain of colposcopic biopsies: A randomized trial

• Published in: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Vol. 188; no. 5; pp. 1164 - 1165
• Main Authors: Oyama, Ian A., Wakabayashi, Mark T., Frattarelli, LeighAnn C., Kessel, Bruce
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Mosby, Inc 01.05.2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Anesthesia; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Anesthetics, Local - administration & dosage; Anesthetics, Local - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy - adverse effects; Cervix Uteri - pathology; colposcopic biopsies; Colposcopy - adverse effects; Curettage; Female; Humans; Injections; Lidocaine - administration & dosage; Lidocaine - therapeutic use; Local anesthesia; Local anesthesia. Pain (treatment); Medical sciences; pain; Pain - etiology; Pain - physiopathology; Pain - prevention & control; Pain Measurement; Pilot Projects; pain; Local anesthesia; colposcopic biopsies; Human; Colposcopy; Visual analogue scale; Treatment efficiency; Uterine cervix; Local anesthetic; Local administration; Chemotherapy; Pain; Treatment; Biopsy; Adult; Female; Organic amide; Lidocaine
• ISSN: 0002-9378; 1097-6868
• DOI: 10.1067/mob.2003.290

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine whether administration of local anesthetic reduces pain associated with colposcopically directed cervical biopsies. Study Design: 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). Conclusion: This pilot study demonstrates that injection of local anesthetic at the site of colposcopically direct cervical biopsies decreases the pain perceived by patients. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003;188:1164-5.)