Spinal analgesia for transvaginal oocyte retrieval.

ABSTRACT

Day case transvaginal ultrasound-guided needle puncture is currently the method of choice for oocyte retrieval. The risk of morbidity from this procedure increases with sudden patient movement in response to needle manipulation. The provision of effective pain relief can limit this risk, but is complicated by the need to balance efficacy with day case compatibility. The aim of this pilot study was to establish whether spinal analgesia using a mixture of bupivacaine and fentanyl could be useful in this context. The results identify several advantages of this technique over current clinical practice, and merit further comparative investigation.