A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of EMLA cream for the relief of pain associated with laser vapourisation for cervical pre-malignant conditions

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Abstract
Summary This study was designed to assess the analgesic efficacy of EMLA, a local anaesthetic cream consisting of a mixture of 2.5 per cent lignocaine and 2.5 per cent prilocaine. EMLA and placebo cream were compared in a double-blind, random allocation study of 70 women receiving laser treatment to the cervix for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, with application 10 minutes before treatment. The pain experienced by the patients was assessed immediately after the laser treatment with McGill's pain questionnaire and with a visual analogue scale. The study revealed that the most intense pain experienced by those receiving EMLA was less (P < 0.05) than in the placebo group, but no difference in analgesic effect was demonstrated using a visual analogue scale.