Evaluation of two local anaesthetic sprays for the relief of post-episiotomy pain.

Aerosol formulations of lignocaine (5%) and cinchocaine (2%) were compared with a water-only placebo spray in a single-dose study in 76 primiparous patients complaining of moderate or severe post-episiotomy pain. In comparison with a water-only placebo, both local anaesthetic formulations gave significant relief when administered to the perineal wound but the lignocaine spray proved to be the more effective. The only side-effect reported was slight stinging occurring immediately after administration of the lignocaine spray in 2 cases. Serum concentrations of local anaesthetic post-administration were negligible. An interesting finding was that breast-feeding patients responded less well to this form of analgesia than patients in whom lactation had been suppressed with frusemide.