OBJECTIVE: To estimate the efficacy of paracervical compared with intracervical administration of local anesthesia during first-trimester suction curettage. METHODS: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial comparing paracervical with intracervical lidocaine was performed in women undergoing elective first-trimester suction curettage with conscious sedation. Pain was assessed at baseline, with dilation, and with curettage using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS). Assuming a minimal clinically

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... important difference in pain score of 1.6 cm and a mean pain score (؎standard deviation [SD]) of 4.7 (؎2.9) cm for paracervical block, 120 patients would provide 80% power with an alpha of .05.