NCT02536235

Applied Topical Heat as an Adjunct for Pain Control in First-Trimester Surgical Abortionl

Applied Topical Heat as an Adjunct for Pain Control in First-Trimester Surgical Abortion: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 120 (actual)
• Sponsor: Planned Parenthood of Greater New York · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 16 Years – 51 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Paracervical blocks are routinely used in first trimester surgical abortions and are a proven method for decreasing procedural pain. Even when paracervical anesthesia is used, an overwhelming majority of women still report at least moderate pain during a first trimester abortion procedure. Other than some non-pharmacologic modalities (music and visualization), only the addition of intravenous medication has been shown to reduce procedural pain. Applied topical heat is effective in alleviating pain in other medical subspecialties, and in gynecology has been shown to reduce pain from dysmenorrhea, but has never been studied for intraoperative pain control during first trimester abortion. The investigators plan to conduct a double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial investigating the utility of topical heat application as an adjunct to paracervical block in first trimester surgical abortions up to 12 6/7wks. The primary outcome is pain score, measured using VAS, at time of uterine aspiration. As secondary outcomes, the investigators will look at the effect of heat application on pain at time of speculum placement, paracervical block, tenaculum placement, cervical dilation and overall pain. Patient satisfaction will also be assessed. If found to reduce pain during abortion under local anesthesia, the use of heat could offer an inexpensive, safe and universally available adjunct to the paracervical block during this procedure.

Conditions

• Topical Heat Application for Intraoperative Abortion Pain Management

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	heat	activated heating pad to lower abdomen

Timeline

• Start date: 2015-07-01
• Primary completion: 2016-07-01
• Completion: 2016-07-01
• First posted: 2015-08-31
• Last updated: 2016-09-29

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States