Usefulness of Local Anesthesia for Urethral Catheterization

Seoung, Ssin Young; Kim, Yang Weon; Kim, Mi Ran; Yoon, Yoo Sang

Abstract

PURPOSE
Urethral catheterization is a commonly done, painful procedure, but few studies have evaluated the use of topical anesthesia prior to catheterization. This study was designed to assess the effect of topical anesthetics (2% lidocaine gel) prior to uretheral catheterization.
METHODS
This study was a prospective, randomized, case-controlled trial conducted in an emergency department of a university teaching hospital. The 54 subjects were alert, cooperative male adults. Patients in the experimental group were catheterized after injection of topical lidocaine gel in their urethras, and a wait of 3 minutes. Patients in the control group were catheterized with a urethral catheter that was coated by plain lubricant. After each procedure, the patients indicated their subjective assessment of pain on a 100 mm visual analog scale (VAS). We assessed VAS at 4 times: during the procedure, at the end of the procedure, and at 3 and 6 hours after the procedure. SPSS 17.0 was used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS
The 54 patients were evenly distributed between the 2 study groups. Mean age was 50 years (range 28-71) in the control group, and 54 years (range 27-70) in the experimental group. The mean reduction in VAS values in the experimental group was 27 mm during the procedure, and 23 mm at 6 hours after the procedure.
CONCLUSION
Use of a topical lidocaine gel during urethral catheterization results in significant reduction in pain compared to topical lubricants. This benefit is provided both during the procedure as well as up to 6 hours after the procedure.