Comparison between lidocaine-prilocaine cream (EMLA) and mepivacaine infiltration for pain relief during perineal repair after childbirth: a randomized trial

Objective

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of topically applied lidocaine-prilocaine (EMLA) cream with local anesthetic infiltration in the reduction of pain during perineal suturing after childbirth.

Study Design

Sixty-one women with either an episiotomy or a perineal laceration after vaginal delivery were assigned randomly to receive either the application of EMLA cream (n = 31) or infiltration with mepivacaine (n = 30) before perineal suturing. Primary outcome was pain during perineal repair.

Results

Women in the EMLA group had lower pain scores than those in the mepivacaine group (1.7 ± 2.4 vs 3.9 ± 2.4; P = .0002). The proportion of women who needed additional anesthesia was similar in the 2 groups (3/30 vs 5/31; P = .71). A significantly higher proportion of women expressed satisfaction with anesthesia method in the EMLA group, compared with the mepivacaine group (83.8% vs 53.3%; P = .01)

Conclusion

EMLA cream appears to be an effective and satisfactory alternative to local anesthetic infiltration for the relief of pain during perineal repair.

Key words: EMLA, lidocaine-prilocaine cream, pain, perineal suturing, vaginal delivery