When does it hurt? Pain during flexible cystoscopy in men.
BACKGROUND
In this observational study, pain was measured continuously in men undergoing flexible cystoscopy, in order to help to identify which parts of the procedure were the most painful.


METHODS
Men who were to undergo flexible cystoscopy were recruited. Pain was measured continuously throughout flexible cystoscopy by asking the subject to squeeze a pressure-sensing rubber bulb in proportion to the amount of discomfort experienced giving a score of 0-10.


RESULTS
The most painful part of the procedure was as the cystoscope passed through the membranous urethra with a median pain score of 2.82. The initial lidocaine administration gives a median pain score of 0.84. The other parts of the cystoscopy produced median scores of between 0.14 and 0.33. The difference in the pain scores was significant (p = 0.03). There was no statistically significant difference in the pain scores between those who were having their first cystoscopy and those who were having repeat cystoscopy. The subjects' age did not influence the degree of pain experienced.


CONCLUSIONS
This study gives further understanding of how pain is experienced during flexible cystoscopy. It may help explain why previous studies have not reached a clear consensus on the value of lidocaine during flexible cystoscopy.
Taghizadeh
A K
AK
Department of Urology, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, UK. a.taghizadeh@ukonline.co.uk
El Madani
A
A
Gard
P R
PR
Li
C-Y
CY
Thomas
P J
PJ
Denyer
S P
SP