Topical etidocaine during laparoscopic tubal occlusion for postoperative pain relief

Narcotic requirements in 51 day-surgery patients following laparoscopic tubal occlusion were significantly reduced (P less than .01) by the use of 1% etidocaine 5 mL, dropped on each fallopian tube from uterus to fimbrias before tubal banding when compared with a control group of 51 day-surgery patients who had no topical anesthetic agent. All patients received general anesthesia. Although there was no significant difference in nausea rate, the incidence of vomiting was decreased. Eight of 51 patients (16%) having topical etidocaine and 19 of 51 (37%) who had no etidocaine vomited during the postoperative period. The frequency of overnight stay was significantly reduced in the topical etidocaine group of patients (P less than or equal to .01).