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Local anesthesia and pain perception during amniocentesis: a randomized double blind placebo‐controlled trial
Author(s) -
Elimian Andrew,
Goodman Jean R.,
Knudtson Eric,
Wagner Andrew,
Wilson Patrick,
Williams Marvin
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
prenatal diagnosis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.956
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1097-0223
pISSN - 0197-3851
DOI - 10.1002/pd.4214
Subject(s) - lidocaine , placebo , medicine , anesthesia , visual analogue scale , randomized controlled trial , local anesthetic , amniocentesis , physical therapy , rating scale , pregnancy , surgery , psychology , prenatal diagnosis , developmental psychology , fetus , alternative medicine , pathology , biology , genetics
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. Conclusion Local anesthetic lidocaine significantly lowers maternal perceived pain during genetic amniocentesis. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.