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Lidocaine and Pain Management in First Trimester Abortions

A Comparison of Intrauterine Lidocaine Infusion and Paracervical Block for Pain Management in First Trimester Abortions

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00613821
Enrollment
80
Registered
2008-02-13
Start date
2007-09-30
Completion date
2008-05-31
Last updated
2017-07-31

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Pain

Keywords

surgical abortion, pain management

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of lidocaine (a numbing medication) inside the uterus on patient pain during an early abortion, compared to the paracervical block (lidocaine injected on either side of the cervix).

Detailed description

The Investigators intend to conduct a randomized, patient-blinded control trial at Oregon Health and Science University and Planned Parenthood of the Columbia Willamette. Women will be approached about this study after they have made a decision to terminate the pregnancy. The women will be blinded and randomized into one of two study arms. Group 1: the investigator will apply pressure with the capped needle of the paracervical block at the cervical-vaginal reflexion at 4 and 8 o'clock. This will approximate the steps involved in a paracervical block without injecting the patient. Following this, the patient will receive a 5 milliliter intrauterine infusion of 4% lidocaine using a sterile 3mm Novak curette. The infusion will be placed slowly over 3 minutes. Group 2: a standard paracervical block (8 milliliter 1% lidocaine at 4 and 8 o'clock at the cervical-vaginal reflection) will be placed. Following this, a 3 mm Novak curette will be placed in the vagina and held to the external os of the cervix for 3 minutes. The curette will not be placed through the cervix and no infusion will be performed. This will approximate the steps involved in an intrauterine infusion without injecting the patient. During the procedure, women in both groups will be asked to rate their pain at various times using a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS).

Interventions

DRUGLidocaine

5 milliliter intrauterine infusion of 4% lidocaine, infusion will be placed slowly over 3 minutes.

Sponsors

Oregon Health and Science University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Good general health * Age\>18years * English speaking * Voluntarily requesting pregnancy termination * Have an estimated gestation of up to 76 days since the first day of the preceding menstrual period * Confirmed by ultrasound * Be able and willing to sign an informed consent * Agree to the terms of the study * All patients must be premedicated with Ibuprofen and Valium (per clinic protocols)

Exclusion criteria

* Significant physical or mental health condition * A gestational age of 77 days or more * Adnexal mass or tenderness on pelvic exam consistent with pelvic inflammatory disease * Patients who require or request IV/intramuscular sedation * Patients who refuse Ibuprofen, Valium and/or paracervical blocks * Patients allergic to lidocaine * Patients with known hepatic disease * Patients weighing less than 100 lbs

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
The Effects of an Intrauterine Lidocaine Infusion to Standard Paracervical Block on Decreasing Patient Pain Measured by Visual Analog Scale in First Trimester Abortions.Immediately (time zero) at uterine aspirationSubjects perception of pain is measured using a 100mm visual analog scale (VAS).The 100mm Pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is an instrument used to capture subjective attitudes that cannot be directly measured. When responding to a VAS item, respondents specify their level of pain by indicating a position along a 100mm continues line: pain scores can range from 0 (no pain) to 100 (worst pain imaginable).

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Lidocaine Infusion
5 milliliter intrauterine infusion of 4% lidocaine, infusion will be placed slowly over 3 minutes. Lidocaine: 5 milliliter intrauterine infusion of 4% lidocaine, infusion will be placed slowly over 3 minutes.
40
Paracervical Block Only
Standard paracervical block (8 milliliter 1% lidocaine at 4 and 8 o'clock at the cervical-vaginal reflection) will be placed. Lidocaine: Standard paracervical block (8 milliliter 1% lidocaine at 4 and 8 o'clock at the cervical-vaginal reflection) will be placed.
40
Total80

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyPhysician Decision11
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject10

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicLidocaine InfusionParacervical Block OnlyTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
40 Participants40 Participants80 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
40 participants40 participants80 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
40 Participants40 Participants80 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 400 / 40
other
Total, other adverse events
1 / 403 / 40
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 400 / 40

Outcome results

Primary

The Effects of an Intrauterine Lidocaine Infusion to Standard Paracervical Block on Decreasing Patient Pain Measured by Visual Analog Scale in First Trimester Abortions.

Subjects perception of pain is measured using a 100mm visual analog scale (VAS).The 100mm Pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is an instrument used to capture subjective attitudes that cannot be directly measured. When responding to a VAS item, respondents specify their level of pain by indicating a position along a 100mm continues line: pain scores can range from 0 (no pain) to 100 (worst pain imaginable).

Time frame: Immediately (time zero) at uterine aspiration

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Lidocaine InfusionThe Effects of an Intrauterine Lidocaine Infusion to Standard Paracervical Block on Decreasing Patient Pain Measured by Visual Analog Scale in First Trimester Abortions.71 mmStandard Deviation 20
Paracervical Block OnlyThe Effects of an Intrauterine Lidocaine Infusion to Standard Paracervical Block on Decreasing Patient Pain Measured by Visual Analog Scale in First Trimester Abortions.43 mmStandard Deviation 30

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026