Lidocaine Spray Compared With Submucosal Injection During LEEP: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Lidocaine Spray Compared With Submucosal Injection in Reducing Pain During Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) is a widely used minor surgical procedure for diagnosis and treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. During the procedure, several methods have been proposed to reducing pain including submucosal block, paracervical block, and oral analgesics. Submucosal (underneath the lining of the cervix) injection of lidocaine appeared to be the most common methods used. However, from the investigators experience, there is significant pain associated with the injection itself.

Lidocaine spray is an effective measure for pain control during minor gastrointestinal and otolaryngological procedures. It is simple without pain related to application.

An objective of this study is to examine effectiveness of lidocaine spray versus lidocaine submucosal injection by comparing pain scores at various stages of the LEEP procedure.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Any degrees of cervical dysplasia detected from cervical cytology or histology
• Need to have loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) for diagnosis and/or treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Allergy to lidocaine
• Pregnancy
• Previous history of cervical operation including conization, LEEP, laser therapy and cryotherapy
• Cardiac arrhythmia
• Neural disease with impaired sensation
• Lower urinary tract cancer
• Coagulation defect
• Drug dependence
• Lower genital tract infection
• Obvious invasive disease of the cervix