Use of Lidocaine 2% Gel Does Not Reduce Pain during Flexible Cystoscopy and Is Not Cost-Effective.

PURPOSE To compare the use of lubricant gel with lidocaine versus lubricant gel without anesthetic in flexible cystoscopy in terms of pain and tolerability. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this observational non-randomized study, 72 patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 38 patients in whom lidocaine gel 2% was used and group 2 included 34 patients in whom lubricant gel without anesthetic was administered. The main variables analyzed were score in visual analogue scale (VAS) and score in Spanish Pain Questionnaire (SPQ). Student's t-test and Chi-square test were used to compare differences between 2 groups. The P values < .05% were considered statistically significant. RESULTS Mean age of patients in group 1 was 64.50 ± 12.39 years and 67.79 ± 10.87 years in group 2 (P = .23). The distribution according to sex was 29 men and 9 women in group 1 and 25 men and 9 women in group 2 (P = .78). The total VAS score was 2.21 ± 2.05 in group 1 versus 1.59 ± 1.61 in group 2 (P = .16). In the SPQ, the current intensity value was 1.82 ± 0.86 in group 1 versus 1.53 ± 0.74 in group 2 (P = .14), and the total intensity value was 1.92 ± 1.86 in group 1 versus 1.03 ± 1.75 in group 2 (P = .04). The cost of gel with lidocaine is 1.25 euro and gel without anesthetic 0.22 euro. CONCLUSION The use of lidocaine gel does not produce benefit in terms of pain relief in flexible cystoscopy and also is costly.