The use of paracervical block anesthesia for dilatation and curettage.

Paracervical block anesthesia was used for dilatation and curettage in 37 patients in situations where general anesthesia or sophisticated forms of conduction anesthesia were either unavailable or contraindicated. Ten millilitres of either 1% xylocaine or procaine or 5 ml. of 2% xylocaine was placed into each lateral fornix with a standard 6-inch, 20-gauge needle at a depth of six to 12 millimetres. The block's effect was good in 34 cases and fair in three; there were no failures. No significant complications occurred. The necessity of guarding against and/or being prepared to treat local anesthetic sensitivity is recognized. Paracervical block proved to be a convenient, safe, simple and effective anesthetic technique for dilatation and curettage, including when other anesthetic techniques were contraindicated.