A double-blind, randomized controlled trial of the use of a 50:50 mixture of nitrous oxide/oxygen in legal abortions.

Background: The study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of oxygen/nitrous oxide (O(2)/N(2)O) in elective abortions by vacuum aspiration with paracervical block and intravenous paracetamol.

Design: This single-center double-blinded randomized study tested O(2)/N(2)O (n=36) and placebo (air, n=36) for additional analgesia in elective abortions with paracervical block and intravenous paracetamol. We assessed intra- and postoperative pain according to both a visual analogic scale rated from 0 to 10 and postoperative analgesic requirements.