Lidocaine spray: A safe and comfortable anaesthetic for perineal laceration closure

Perineal lacerations are common after childbirth and are generally repaired after using local anaesthesia. This study published in ‘BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth’ compared the effectiveness and safety of Lidocaine spray versus Mepivacaine injection for this procedure.

Stefano Restaino and colleagues conducted a randomized controlled trial comprising 136 women in the postpartum period. They were assigned to either Lidocaine hydrochloride 10% spray (experimental group) or administered with Mepivacaine hydrochloride injection (control group) for suturing obstetric lacerations. The pain levels were assessed via the numerical rating scale.

The study included 84 cases of 1st-grade and 52 cases of 2nd-grade perineal lacerations. All the repairs were completed without severe complications. There were no substantial contrasts in blood loss, operation time or pain scores between the groups. In the spray group, 36 cases required more than the initially planned 5 puffs and 3 needed extra injections.

Lidocaine spray provides pain relief and efficacy similar to Mepivacaine infiltration for repairing 1st and 2nd-grade perineal lacerations.