Volume 201, Issue 2 , Pages 186.e1-186.e5, August 2009
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
Cite this article as: Franchi M, Cromi A, Scarperi S, et al. Comparison between lidocaine-prilocaine cream (EMLA) and mepivacaine infiltration for pain relief during perineal repair after childbirth: a randomized trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009;201:186.e1-5.
Authorship and contribution to the article is limited to the 6 authors indicated. There was no outside funding or technical assistance with the production of this article.
PII: S0002-9378(09)00409-8
doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2009.04.023
© 2009 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.
Volume 201, Issue 2 , Pages 186.e1-186.e5, August 2009

