Randomised comparison of distension media for outpatient hysteroscopy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare saline with and without added lignocaine and carbon dioxide distension for out patient hysteroscopy with regards to patient discomfort and hysteroscopic view.

DESIGN: Single blind prospective randomised controlled trial.

SETTING: Specialist out patient clinics in a large teaching hospital.

POPULATION: Women undergoing out patient hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy for abnormal uterine bleeding.

METHOD: Out patient hysteroscopy using carbon dioxide, saline or saline with lignocaine.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual analogue score (VAS) for pain and present pain intensity (PPI) as assessed by patients and the quality of hysteroscopic view as assessed by the operator.

RESULTS: Of the 305 women approached, 300 women were randomised into the study. The mean [SD] VAS for pain in the carbon dioxide group was 2.9 [2.3] and in the saline group was 3.1 [2.6], the difference was not statistically significant (P= 0.49). The mean [SD] VAS for pain in the saline plus lignocaine group was 3.2 [2.4]. This was not significantly different from the saline group (P= 0.72). There was a statistically significant difference between the confidence rating for the hysteroscopic view for the carbon dioxide compared with the saline group; mean [SD] was 8.3 [2.1] and 9.6 [1.1], respectively (P= 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Carbon dioxide and saline as distension media are comparable in terms of overall patient discomfort and satisfaction, but saline provides better views and increases confidence in diagnosis. Adding lignocaine to the saline distension medium does not confer any additional benefit.