The Efficacy of Lidocaine-Prilocaine Cream to reduce Pain in Genetic Amniocentesis
Densak Pongrojpaw MD*, Charintip Somprasit MD*, Athita Chanthasenanont MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine,Thammasat University, Pathumthani
Objective : Evaluate whether local anesthesia by lidocaine-prilocaine cream decreases maternal pain during
mid-trimester genetic amniocentesis.
Materials and Methods : This randomized controlled study of mid-trimester genetic amniocentesis was conducted
between 1 October 2006 and 30 April 2007.Pregnant women were randomized to receive lidocaine-prilocaine
cream or placebo cream 30 minutes prior to amniocentesis. Patients, blinded to allocation, recorded anticipated
and actual pain before and after the procedure. The visual analog score (VAS) was evaluated, using a 0-10
scale.
Results : One hundred and twenty women participated in the present study. Sixty women were randomized to
lidocaine-prilocaine group. The two groups were similar with respect to clinical correlations and procedure
characteristics. Anticipated pain was 6.1 + 2.0 in the lidocaine-prilocaine group and 6.3 + 2.3 in the placebo
group (p = 0.61). Actual pain was 2.3 + 2.2 in the lidocaine-prilocaine group and 2.9 + 2.5 in the placebo
group (p = 0.16).
Conclusion : Lidocaine-prilocaine cream does not decrease pain during mid-trimester genetic amniocentesis.
Keywords : Pain, Amniocentesis
