A randomized double-blind study to compare the effectiveness of three different doses of lignocaine used in paracervical block during oocyte retrieval

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of three different doses of lignocaine used in paracervical block (PCB) during transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval (TUGOR) Methods: In this double-blind study, 153 patients undergoing TUGOR in their first in vitro fertilization cycle were randomized to receive 50, 100, and 150 mg of lignocaine in PCB. Pain levels were measured by a 100-mm linear visual analogue scale (0 = none to 100 = intolerable). Results: No differences were seen in the demographic data, the ovarian responses, the duration of TUGOR, and the number of follicles punctured. Vaginal and abdominal pain levels during TUGOR and 4 h after TUGOR were not significantly different among the three groups. The median vaginal and abdominal pain levels during the retrieval were 22.0-24.0 and 30.0-32.0 respectively. Conclusions: The use of 50 mg of lignocaine is recommended in PCB because of the lack of improvement in pain relief on higher doses and potential dose-related risks.