Usefulness of Local Anesthesia for Urethral Catheterization.
- Author:
Ssin Young SEOUNG
1
;
Yang Weon KIM
;
Mi Ran KIM
;
Yoo Sang YOON
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea. 101mars@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Randomized Controlled Trial
- Keywords:
Urinary catheterization;
Local anesthesia;
Lidocaine
- MeSH:
Adult;
Anesthesia;
Anesthesia, Local;
Anesthetics;
Case-Control Studies;
Catheterization;
Catheters;
Emergencies;
Hospitals, Teaching;
Humans;
Lidocaine;
Lubricants;
Male;
Prospective Studies;
Urethra;
Urinary Catheterization;
Urinary Catheters
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
2010;21(6):867-871
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
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.
