Multilevel local anesthetic nerve blockade for the treatment of vulvar vestibulitis syndrome.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome is a major cause of dyspareunia. This pilot study was designed to evaluate a novel treatment approach.

STUDY DESIGN:

This is a prospective study of 27 women with vulvar vestibulitis. The protocol included 5 treatment sessions with caudal epidural, pudendal nerve block, and vestibular infiltration of local anesthetic agents.

RESULTS:

There were significant improvements in vestibular pain as determined by the vulvalgesiometer, McGill pain questionnaire, self-report, and the Female Sexual Functioning Inventory.

CONCLUSION:

Serial multilevel nerve blocks administered for the treatment of vulvar vestibulitis is a conceptually neurophysiologically based modality that may be effective and merits a placebo-controlled study.

• Authors: Andrea J Rapkin, John S McDonald, Melinda Morgan
• Journal: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology (Am J Obstet Gynecol) Vol. 198 Issue 1 Pg. 41.e1-5 (Jan 2008) ISSN: 1097-6868 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 17936236 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anesthetics, Local

Topics

• Adult
• Anesthetics, Local (therapeutic use)
• Dyspareunia (etiology, physiopathology)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Nerve Block (methods)
• Pain Measurement (drug effects)
• Pain Threshold (drug effects)
• Patient Satisfaction
• Pilot Projects
• Probability
• Prospective Studies
• Risk Assessment
• Severity of Illness Index
• Vulvar Vestibulitis (complications, diagnosis, therapy)