Evaluation of Paracervical Block and IV Sedation for Pain Management during Hysteroscopic Polypectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of paracervical block (PB) and IV sedation (IVS) on women's pain perception during operative hysteroscopy. METHODS: A total of 84 patients with uterine polyps were randomized to either PB or IV sedation or general anesthesia (GA) as control group. In PB group, the patients received oral diazepam 10 mg and 100 mg diclofenac Na suppository 60 min before surgery and 10 cc of 2% buffered lidocaine was injected at cervix. Conscious sedation was performed with the IV administration of 2-3 mg/kg/h propofol 1% and midazolam 0.02 mg/kg and fentanyl (1-2 μg/kg) with o2 4-5 lit/min via face mask. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups on VAS score at 3 hours after operation (PB: 1.22 ± (1.31), IVS: 1.10 ± (1.68), GA: 1.29 ± (2.03), P = 0.671) and during recovery (PB: 0.85 ± (1.06), IVS: 0.68 ± (1.33), GA: 1.21 ± (2.04), P = 0.458). There was no difference between PB (3.33 ± (2.81)) and IVS (2.31 ± (2.63)) groups at hysteroscopy (P = 0.182). Patients undergoing IVS reported lower VAS score than PB group at dilation and curettage, although the difference was not statistically significant (PB: 2.59 ± (1.78), IVS: 1.72 ± (2.34), P = 0.051). Moreover, patients undergoing IVS obtained lower VAS score than PB group at polypectomy, while the difference was not statistically significant (PB: 1.81 ± (1.52), IVS: 1.10 ± (1.32), P = 0.073). CONCLUSION: The finding of the present study revealed that IVS and PB showed the same effect in reducing pain during and after gynecological surgical procedures. The study was registered in Iranian Registry of Clinical Trial with the number IRCT2016031426855N3, on April 28, 2016.