Outpatient flexible cystoscopy in men: a randomized study of patient tolerance.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluate the pain of immediate versus delayed outpatient flexible cystoscopy in men after topical local anesthesia application.


METHODS
A total of 100 consecutive men with superficial bladder tumors were randomized to immediate or delayed surveillance flexible cystoscopy after intraurethral instillation of lidocaine gel. Patients recorded the level of pain experienced during cystoscopy on a 4-point pain scale and on a 10-point visual linear analog self-assessment scale.


RESULTS
Of the 100 patients 50 underwent immediate and 50 underwent delayed cystoscopy. The mean pain score on a scale of 1-no to 4-severe pain was 1.7 after immediate cystoscopy compared with 1.6 after delayed cystoscopy (p = 0.9). The mean linear analog self-assessment score on a scale of 1-no to 10-most pain was 2.1 after immediate cystoscopy versus 1.8 after delayed cystoscopy (p = 0.7).


CONCLUSIONS
There was no difference in pain perception in men undergoing immediate or delayed outpatient flexible cystoscopy using the same local anesthetic.
Herr
H W
HW
Department of Urology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.
Schneider
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D003558:Cystoscopy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013997:Time Factors; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*
D000779:Anesthetics, Local