A randomised controlled trial of intravenous versus inhalational analgesia during outpatient oocyte recovery. Pain relief during oocyte retrieval with a new short duration electro-acupuncture technique--an alternative to conventional analgesic methods. [Comparison of 4 anesthetic techniques for in vitro fertilization]. Is analgesia required for transvaginal single-follicle aspiration in in vitro fertilization? A double-blind study. A prospective randomized trial comparing patient-controlled sedation using propofol and alfentanil and physician-administered sedation using diazepam and pethidine during transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval. [Analgesic effect of acupuncture compound anesthesia for patients of different pain thresholds]. [Application of acupuncture compound anesthesia in transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval]. Electro-acupuncture versus conventional analgesia: a comparison of pain levels during oocyte aspiration and patients' experiences of well-being after surgery. A comparison of three different target-controlled remifentanil infusion rates during target-controlled propofol infusion for oocyte retrieval. Paracervical block with and without conscious sedation: a comparison of the pain levels during egg collection and the postoperative side effects. How effective is patient-controlled analgesia? A randomized comparison of two protocols for pain relief during oocyte recovery. Midazolam/ketamine sedative combination compared with fentanyl/propofol/isoflurane anaesthesia for oocyte retrieval. A prospective randomized study of electro-acupuncture versus alfentanil as anaesthesia during oocyte aspiration in in-vitro fertilization. Electro-acupuncture as a peroperative analgesic method and its effects on implantation rate and neuropeptide Y concentrations in follicular fluid. Remifentanil versus remifentanil with paracervical block on plasma remifentanil concentrations and pulmonary function tests for transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval. True patient-controlled sedation. Intraoperative patient-controlled analgesia: an alternative to physician administration during outpatient monitored anesthesia care. Auricular electro-acupuncture as an additional perioperative analgesic method during oocyte aspiration in IVF treatment.
To compare the efficacy and acceptability of conventional intravenous sedation with patient-controlled inhalational isodesox, 57 women undergoing outpatient oocyte recovery were randomly allocated to receive isodesox by face mask, while 55 women were given intravenous fentanyl and midazolam. Women's satisfaction with pain relief, peroperative pain, clouding of memory and the surgeons' assessment of operating conditions were evaluated. Thirty-eight women in the inhalation group (67%) and 41 (75%) women in the intravenous group were 'very satisfied' with their analgesia (p = 0. 41). The mean (SD) pain score in women given isodesox was 46.8 (34. 7), while in the intravenous group it was 34.1 (21.3) (p = 0.02). Oxygen saturation levels < 94% were recorded in one woman using isodesox and in 16 (29%) women given intravenous analgesia. Despite higher pain scores, in comparison with the conventional analgesia, patient-controlled isodesox offers a safer method of pain relief with comparable satisfaction rates. Acupuncture previously has proved its pain-relieving effect for ovum pick-up (OPU). The analgesic effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) was evaluated when EA was applied for only a few minutes prior to OPU in an attempt to make EA more attractive for clinical use.
                Two hundred patients undergoing OPU were randomized prospectively using sealed, unlabelled envelopes, to receive pain relief with either EA in combination with a paracervical block (PCB) (n = 100) or conventional medical analgesia (CMA) in combination with a PCB (n = 100). A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate pain and anxiety before, during and after OPU. The primary outcome measure was pain relief; secondary end-points were costs, time to discharge and clinical outcome parameters.
                There were no differences in any VAS ratings before the procedure. Directly after OPU, the EA group reported significantly higher mean and maximum pain, and 'pain now' than the CMA group. At 30 min after OPU and thereafter, no significant differences were found between the groups regarding abdominal pain. Time to discharge and costs were significantly lower in the EA group compared with the CMA group. No differences in clinical outcome parameters were seen.
                A significant difference was found between the EA and the CMA groups regarding pain during the OPU, probably due to the fact that the CMA group was pre-medicated as part of the study design. Despite a per-operative difference in pain rating, EA, given a few minutes prior to OPU, is a good alternative to CMA. The procedure is well tolerated by the patients, with a shorter hospitalization time and lower costs. Little is known of the effect on oocytes of anesthesia administered during retrieval. The main objective of this study was to compare the prolactin and stress hormone responses to surgical stimulus under 4 anesthetic techniques and to determine whether there is an effect of technique on the number and quality of oocytes retrieved.
                We designed a clinical trial to determine the plasma and follicular levels of prolactin and cortisol in patients in an assisted reproduction program. The patients were randomized to 3 anesthetic groups: general anesthesia, spinal anesthesia, or sedation with alfentanil and midazolam plus paracervical block. Patients were consecutively assigned to the fourth group to receive sedation with remifentanil plus paracervical block.
                We studied 90 patients. The patients receiving general anesthesia had the greatest increase in prolactin by the end of the procedure. Follicular cortisol increased in the paracervical block group in which remifentanil was used for sedation. The only significant difference between groups was seen for the rate of gestation of 0% in the group receiving sedation with alfentanil and midazolam before a paracervical block. Adverse effects were few with all the techniques. All patients reported a high degree of satisfaction.
                Plasma increases in prolactin and hormonal responses to follicular puncture were fully attenuated by spinal anesthesia and partially attenuated by the techniques requiring sedation. None of the anesthetic techniques proved harmful to oocytes or embryos. Nor was the effectiveness of the in vitro fertilization technique affected by any of the anesthetic techniques studied. High oocyte retrieval rates using transvaginal follicular aspiration for single follicles and improved laboratory techniques have engendered renewed interest in natural-cycle in vitro fertilization (IVF). To assess analgesia requirements during single-follicle aspiration, a double-blind study was set up in 30 patients comparing intraprocedure intravenous fentanyl with normal saline as a placebo. Analysis of pain perception using visual analogue scoring showed a similar pain tolerance in both groups for the procedures of vaginal ultrasound scanning, needle insertion, and follicular aspiration. A correlation between each patient's tolerance of common pain-producing experiences with that for the procedure was not well defined (r = 0.5). We conclude that one of the benefits of natural-cycle IVF using transvaginal single-follicle aspiration is that it can be performed without analgesia. This open label study compared the effectiveness of patient-controlled sedation (PCS), with physician-administered sedation (PAS) during transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval (TUGOR).
                A total of 106 patients was randomized using a computer model to receive either PCS (n = 51) or PAS (n = 55). Intra-operative sedation and co-operation were measured on a 5-point scale while severity of pain, and doctor and patient satisfaction were assessed using a 100 mm visual analogue scale. Number of oocytes retrieved and fertilization, cleavage and clinical pregnancy rates were also recorded.
                Levels of sedation and co-operation were similar between groups. The pain score was higher in the PCS group during (mean +/- SD, 53 +/- 23 versus 35 +/- 24; P < 0.01) and 2 h after the procedure (29 +/- 27 versus 17 +/- 22; P < 0.05). Doctors were less satisfied with PCS than PAS (62 +/- 25 versus 71 +/- 26; P < 0.05) while patients were highly satisfied with both methods (76 +/- 23 versus 74 +/- 21; not significant). There were no oversedation or peri-operative complications. Fertility outcomes were similar. Patients tended to prefer PCS when given the choice of sedation method.
                Although PCS provides less analgesia then PAS during TUGOR, it is safe, satisfactory and accepted by patients. To observe analgesic effect of acupuncture compound anesthesia for patients of different pain thresholds.
                Seven hundred cases of infertility who will be taken ova under ultrasound guidance via the va gina and receive in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET), were randomly divided into an acupuncture compound anesthesia group (n = 347) and a simple Dolantin group (n = 353). The pain thresholds in the acupunc ture compound anesthesia group was determined 30 min before acupuncture on one day before taking ova, and in the simple Dolantin group was determined before injection of Dolantin and 30 min before taking the ova. The patients in the two groups respectively received electroacupuncture at Shenshu (BL 23), Ciliao (BL 32), Baihui (GV 20), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), etc. combined with intramuscular injection of Dolantin, and simple intramuscular injection of Do lantin.
                For the patients with pain thresholds of 1 mA, 1.5 mA and 2 mA, the cumulative scores of pain in the acupuncture compound anesthesia group were significantly lower than those in the simple dolantin group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). For the patients with pain thresholds of 0.5 mA, 2.5 mA and 3 mA, in cumulative scores of pain there were no significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05).
                For the patients with moderate pain thresholds, acupuncture compound anesthesia has good analgesic effect. To observe analgesic effect and safety of acupuncture compound anesthesia in transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval.
                Three hundred and sixteen cases undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were randomly allocated to an acupuncture compound anesthesia group (n = 146) and a simple Pethidine group (n = 170). They received respectively electroacupuncture combined with intramuscular injection of Pethidine and simple intramuscular injection of Pethidine 30 min before oocyte retrieval.
                The acupuncture compound anesthesia group was significantly better than the simple Pethidine group in the pain rating and pain score (P < 0.01); the incidence rate of abdominal pain at 1 h and 2-5 h after oocyte retrieval in the acupuncture compound anesthesia group was lower than that in the simple Pethidine group (P < 0.01).
                In transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval, acupuncture compound anesthesia has the advances of safety, high effectiveness, rapid recovery after oocyte retrieval, and few side effects. The primary aims were to compare the pain-relieving effect and post-operative well-being between electro-acupuncture analgesia (EA) and conventional analgesia (CA) comprising opiates. Further aims were to compare time for mobilization, and costs for time and drug consumption.
                In all, 160 women undergoing IVF were randomized, according to a computer-generated list, to EA or CA. Well-being was evaluated with the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Pain and subjective expectations and experiences were recorded on a visual analogue scale (VAS). Time and drug consumption were recorded.
                Although VAS pain ratings were significantly higher at oocyte aspiration (P < 0.0001) and after retrieval (P < 0.01) in the EA than in the CA group, they were similar 60 min after surgery. Both groups had similar STAI well-being scores. The EA group was significantly less tired and confused than the CA group after oocyte aspiration. No significant differences in time and costs for drug consumption were noted.
                EA cannot generally be recommended as a pain-relieving method at oocyte aspiration but might be an alternative for women desiring a non-pharmacological method. An advantage of EA is less post-operative tiredness and confusion compared with CA. To evaluate the effects of three different target-controlled remifentanil infusion rates during target-controlled propofol infusion on hemodynamic parameters, pain, sedation, and recovery score during oocyte retrieval.
                Sixty-nine women were scheduled for oocyte retrieval. Target-controlled propofol infusion at an effect-site concentration of 1.5 μg/mL was instituted. The patients were randomly allocated to receive remifentanil at an effect-site concentration of either 1.5 (group I, n = 23), 2 (group II, n = 23) or 2.5 ng/mL (group III, n = 23). Hemodynamic variables, sedation, pain, the Aldrete recovery score, and side effects were recorded.
                Hemodynamic variables, sedation and pain scores and the number of patients with the maximum Aldrete recovery score 10 min after the procedure were comparable among the groups. The number of patients in group III with the maximum Aldrete recovery score 5 min after the procedure was significantly lower than that in groups I and II. One patient in group II and one patient in group III suffered from nausea.
                Similar pain-free conscious sedation conditions without significant changes in hemodynamic parameters were provided by all three protocols. However, target controlled infusion of remifentanil at 1.5 or 2 ng/mL proved superior at providing early recovery compared to 2.5 ng/mL. To compare the pain levels during egg collection and the subsequent postoperative side effects in patients receiving a paracervical block (PCB) with and without conscious sedation.
                A prospective, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study.
                A tertiary assisted reproduction unit.
                150 patients undergoing egg collection.
                Randomized to receive PCB only (control group) and PCB in conjunction with conscious sedation (sedation group).
                Vaginal and abdominal pain levels; severity of postoperative side effects.
                The median pain levels during vaginal punctures were 12.0 (2.5th--97.5th centiles: 0--84.3) and 30.0 (2.5th--97.5th centiles: 0--100) in the sedation and placebo groups, respectively. The corresponding median abdominal pain levels were 16.5 (2.5th--97.5th centiles: 0--100) and 43.0 (2.5th--97.5th centiles: 0--100). The pain levels were significantly higher in the placebo group than the sedation group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the severity of nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and drowsiness.
                Patients who received only a PCB during the egg collection experienced 2.5 times higher levels of vaginal and abdominal pain as compared to those who received both PCB and conscious sedation. The use of PCB along is not recommended for all patients but it may be considered with selected patients after they have been given extensive counseling. Although the conventional method of pain relief during outpatient oocyte recovery involves physician-administered drugs, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) offers an alternative technique with the potential to give women more control over peroperative analgesia. We conducted a prospective randomized study to compare the effect of fentanyl administered either through a PCA delivery system or by a physician. Thirty-nine women were randomized to PCA during egg collection while 42 were allocated to receive intermittent doses administered by a physician. Pain was evaluated by means of a 100 mm linear analogue scale. The mean (SD) pain score in the PCA group was 38.5 (19.8) while in the other group it was 46.1 (21.3) (P = 0.1). In the PCA group, 64% of women felt very satisfied with their analgesia as compared with 57% in the non-PCA group (P = 0.6). Among the PCA users, 39% of demands were successful. Significantly more fentanyl (97.5 microg) was used in the PCA group than in the other group (84.6 microg) (P = 0.03). Though intraoperative PCA with fentanyl is an effective alternative to physician-administered techniques, many women still feel the need for more analgesia during the procedure. Assisted reproduction may be associated with repeated occasions of surgical intervention. Propofol, which is frequently used for induction of anaesthesia in such procedures, has been suspected of damaging oocytes. We compared in a randomized prospective design the use of general anaesthesia with fentanyl 0.017 mg/kg, propofol 2.5 mg/kg and isoflurane to that of sedation with midazolam 0.06 mg/kg and ketamine 0.75 mg/kg for transvaginal oocyte retrieval in 50 patients with no premedication. Overall, patient satisfaction was not different between the groups. Sedated patients were more arousable than anaesthetized patients during the procedure and experienced less postoperative abdominal pain at 30 min. Despite some movement in response to pain, oocyte retrieval was conveniently feasible in all sedated patients, of which none required a switch to general anaesthesia. A comparable number of oocytes was retrieved per cycle, 10.8 (+/-7.8) versus 9.6 (+/-10.9) with sedation and anaesthesia respectively. No patient recalled any pain sensation during the procedure. The rate of embryo transfers and pregnancies were not different between the two groups. We conclude that the sedative combination of midazolam and ketamine for oocyte retrieval may serve as an alternative for general anaesthesia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anaesthetic effect during oocyte aspiration of a paracervical block (PCB) in combination with either electro-acupuncture (EA) or intravenous alfentanil. In all, 150 women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer were randomized to receive either EA plus PCB or alfentanil plus PCB. Visual analogue scales (VAS) were used to evaluate subjective experiences during oocyte aspiration, and IVF outcome parameters were recorded. No differences in pain directly related to oocyte aspiration, adequacy of anaesthesia during oocyte aspiration, abdominal pain, or degree of nausea were found between the two groups in the VAS ratings. Before oocyte aspiration, the level of stress was significantly higher in the EA group than in the alfentanil group (P < 0.05), and the EA group experienced discomfort for a significantly longer period during oocyte aspiration (P < 0. 01). Compared with the alfentanil group, the EA group had a significantly higher implantation rate (P < 0.05), pregnancy rate (P < 0.05), and take home baby rate (P < 0.05) per embryo transfer. In conclusion, EA has been shown to be as good an anaesthetic method as alfentanil during oocyte aspiration, and we suggest that EA may be a good alternative to conventional anaesthesia during oocyte aspiration. In a previous study on the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) in combination with a paracervical block (PCB) as an analgesic method during oocyte aspiration in IVF treatment, EA appeared to increase the pregnancy rate. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that EA as an analgesic during oocyte aspiration would result in: (i) a better IVF pregnancy rate than with alfentanil; (ii) peroperative analgesia that was as good as that produced by alfentanil; (iii) less postoperative abdominal pain, nausea and stress; and (iv) a reduction in the use of additional analgesics. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) concentrations in follicular fluid (FF) were analysed when possible.
                In this prospective, randomized, multicentre clinical trial, 286 women undergoing oocyte aspiration were randomly allocated to the EA group (EA plus a PCB) or to the alfentanil group (alfentanil plus a PCB). No significant differences were found between the EA and alfentanil groups in any of the IVF variables. NPY concentrations in FF were significantly higher in the EA group compared with the alfentanil group. No correlation between pregnancy rate and NPY concentrations was found in either analgesic group. Both EA plus a PCB and alfentanil plus a PCB induced adequate peroperative analgesia during oocyte aspiration evaluated using the visual analogue scale. After 2 h, the EA group reported significantly less abdominal pain, other pain, nausea and stress than the alfentanil group. In addition, the EA group received significantly lower amounts of additional alfentanil than the alfentanil group.
                EA does not improve pregnancy rate in the present clinical situation. The observation that NPY concentrations in FF were higher in the EA group may be important for human ovarian steroidogenesis. The analgesic effects produced by EA are as good as those produced by conventional analgesics, and the use of opiate analgesics with EA is lower than when conventional analgesics alone are used. The aim of this study is to compare plasma remifentanil concentrations and pulmonary function tests in subjects receiving remifentanil infusion (RI) versus RI with paracervical block (PCB) during transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval (TUGOR).
                Prospective, randomized.
                Assisted Conception Unit.
                Forty American Society ofAnesthesiologists I subjects requiring TUGOR.
                After ovarian hyperstimulation, subjects were randomly allocated into two groups to receive either RI (Group RI, n = 20) or RI with PCB (Group RI + PCB, n = 20).
                Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), end tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) tension, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC), and amount of remifentanil used were collected. Plasma remifentanil concentrations were calculated with STANPUMP software.
                HR, MAP, ETCO2, SpO2, FEV1, and FVC did not differ between the groups. Total amount of remifentanil used were 486 +/- 1.81 microg and 321 +/- 0.87 microg in groups RI and RI + PCB, respectively, (p < 0.05). In Group RI, plasma remifentanil concentrations were 4.7 ng mL(-1) and 4.2 ng mL(-1) during the second transvaginal puncture, and at the end of TUGOR, respectively, whereas corresponding plasma remifentanil concentrations were 3.1 ng mL(-1) and 2.6 ng mL(-1) in Group RI + PCB (p < 0.05).
                Both anesthesia regimens provided satisfactory analgesia without affecting FEV1 and FVC, but significantly higher plasma remifentanil concentrations were calculated when only RI was used as an anesthetic technique. A modified patient-controlled analgesia pump provided doses of propofol 3 mg or midazolam 0.1 mg in 0.3 ml, over 5.4 s, with no lockout, during transvaginal oocyte retrieval. Alfentanil 0.2 mg was administered at three points during the procedure, and on request. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either propofol (25 patients) or midazolam (22 patients). The mean age, weight, duration of procedure and dose of alfentanil were similar in both groups. Onset of sedation with propofol or midazolam took 70.6 (SD 22.4) and 106.3 (50.7) s respectively. Mean doses over the first 5 min were midazolam 2.7 (1.2) mg, and propofol 54 (18) mg. Thereafter requirements decreased: midazolam 0.065 (0.065) mg.min-1, propofol 2.1 (1.3) mg.min-1. All patients successfully completed the procedure; none required additional sedation. P-deletion, reaction time, and critical flicker fusion tests revealed similar depression in both groups immediately postoperatively. After 30 min the p-deletion and critical flicker fusion scores were still impaired in the midazolam, but not in the propofol, group. Outpatients undergoing minor diagnostic and therapeutic procedures associated with intermittent discomfort are frequently given bolus injections of intravenous opioid analgesics. In a group of 80 healthy women undergoing vaginal ovum pickup procedures, we evaluated patient-controlled administration of alfentanil using a patient-controlled analgesia device (with a lockout interval of 3 min) as an alternative to conventional physician-controlled administration. The two alfentanil administration techniques were equally effective in providing intraoperative analgesia. The average alfentanil dosage requirements were 1.49 +/- 0.50 and 1.46 +/- 0.55 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 (mean +/- SD) in the physician- and patient-controlled groups, respectively. The incidence of postoperative nausea was the same in both treatment groups (8%). Even with the mandatory lockout interval, intraoperative patient-controlled administration of alfentanil was comparable to physician-controlled administration with respect to patient comfort and satisfaction during vaginal ovum pickup procedures. The aim of this study was to compare the pain-relieving effect and the subjective well-being between auricular electro-acupuncture (EA) analgesia, auricular acupuncture (A) and conventional analgesia with remifentanil (CO).
                A total of 94 women undergoing IVF were randomized to auricular acupuncture with (EA, n = 32) or without (A, n = 32) continuous 1 Hz auricular stimulation (using a battery-powered miniaturized stimulator, P-Stim) or with adhesive tapes instead of needles and no electrical stimulation (control group, CO, n = 30) at the auricular acupuncture points 29, 55 and 57. All patients received patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with remifentanil. Pain intensity and psychological well-being were assessed by means of visual analogue scales (VAS); tiredness, nausea and vomiting and analgesic drug consumption were documented.
                Pain relief and subjective well-being were significantly greater in group EA during and after the procedure as compared with groups A and CO (P < 0.001). The patients were significantly more tired in group CO than in groups A and EA (P < 0.001). Consumption of the opioid remifentanil was significantly lower in group EA, comparable nausea (P < 0.001).
                Auricular EA significantly reduces pain intensity and analgesic consumption of the opioid remifentanil during oocyte aspiration in IVF treatment.