Oral dexketoprofen for pain treatment during diagnostic hysteroscopy in postmenopausal women

Objective: To assess the efficacy of dexketoprofen (DEX) in reducing pain at different stages of the hysteroscopic procedure in comparison with local anaesthesia in menopausal women. Methods: Menopausal patients affected by uterine bleeding submitted to diagnostic hysteroscopy, were randomised to receive either 25 mg DEX tablet ( n=148) or intracervical injection of 5 ml mepivacaine 2% ( n=150). Pain suffered during the procedure itself and 30, 60, 120 min after, was scored on the 11 point Visual Analogic Scale, recorded and analysed. Results: No statistical difference were noted during the procedure itself in both groups of treatment. Patients treated with DEX has significantly less postoperative pain. Conclusions: DEX is not superior to mepivacaine in reducing the discomfort of the procedure but does significantly reduce postoperative pain.