Use of EMLA cream with vasectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the application of a eutectic mixture of anesthetic cream (EMLA cream) can decrease the pain of lidocaine injection during vasectomy.


METHODS
A double-blind, prospective study was performed in which each patient acted as his own control. One hour before a double-incision vasectomy, EMLA cream was applied to one side of the scrotum and a white lanolin hand cream to the other side. A double-incision vasectomy was performed, and each patient was asked to rate the pain associated with each side of the procedure.


RESULTS
Eighty-nine patients agreed to the study; 61 patients thought the EMLA cream decreased the pain of the vasectomy, 16 preferred the lanolin hand cream, and 3 said there was no difference. These results were significant at the 0.0001 level using the Student t test.


CONCLUSIONS
EMLA cream significantly decreases the pain associated with lidocaine injections given as local anesthesia for vasectomy.
Cooper
Thomas P
TP
Department of Urology, Western Washington Medical Group, Everett, Washington 98203, USA.
D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000009:adverse effects; D007809:Lanolin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D008297:Male; D009824:Ointments; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011318:Prilocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012611:Scrotum / Q000187:drug effects; D014659:Vasectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D009824:Ointments; D011318:Prilocaine; D007809:Lanolin; D008012:Lidocaine