Hum. Reprod. Advance Access originally published online on June 21, 2006
Human Reproduction 2006 21(10):2606-2611; doi:10.1093/humrep/del234
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A double-blind, randomized controlled trial on the use of a 50:50 mixture of nitrous oxide/oxygen in pain relief during suction evacuation for the first trimester pregnancy termination
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2 Department of Anaesthesiology and 3 Operation Theatre Service, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Peoples Republic of China
4 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Peoples Republic of China. E-mail: kansy{at}ha.org.hk
BACKGROUND: This prospective study assessed the role of a 50:50 mixture of nitrous oxide (N2O) and oxygen for pain relief during the termination of first trimester pregnancies by suction evacuation under conscious sedation. METHODS: Ninety women undergoing suction evacuation up to 12 weeks of gestation were randomized by a computer-generated randomization list and allocated using sealed envelopes to receive the N2O/O2 mixture or air during the operation. Pain scores during and after suction evacuation, post-operative side effects and satisfaction level were compared. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in pain scores, post-operative side effects and satisfaction levels were found between the two groups. CONCLUSION: N2O/O2 did not reduce the pain level during suction evacuation for the first trimester pregnancy termination under conscious sedation.
Key words: N2O/oxygen/pain relief/suction evacuation