Abstract No: 27
ASSESSMENT AND COMPARISON OF INTRA- AND POST-OPERATIVE PAIN
IN PATIENTS TREATED WITH THE NOVASURE- trademark AND
THERMACHOICe- trademark .
R. Sabbah
University of Montreal, Canada
Study Objective: 1. Assess and document the intra- and postoperative pain levels in
patients treated with two global endometrial ablation techniques (NovaSure and
ThermaChoice). 2. Compare the obtained data between the two groups of patients. 3.
Draw conclusions on the required anesthesia regimen for each type of treatment and
develop recommendations regarding the appropriate anesthesia regimen. Design:
Multicenter, prospective, double-arm, international study. Patients: 67 women with
menorrhagia secondary to dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB). Measurements and Main
Results: Serum prostaglandin (F2-alfa) levels will be analyzed before surgery and
immediately postoperatively (at 5, 30 and 60 minutes post-procedure). Subjective patient
ratings of intra- and post-operative pain were documented using the Visual Analogue and
Numerical Rating Scales. Preliminary Clinical Results & Conclusions: Clinical results
indicate that both intra- and post-operative pain associated with the NovaSure procedure is
statistically significantly (P<0.0001) lower when compared to the ThermaChoice
procedure. The immediate postoperative PG F2-alfa levels were correlated with the
patients' assessments of pain. This study is also testing the hypothesis that the NovaSure
System effectively thermally destroys (deactivates) and simultaneously 'vacuums away'
prostaglandins and other bi-products of ablation, thereby reducing intra- and post-operative
pain. Complete study results will be presented.