No-needle jet anesthetic technique for no-scalpel vasectomy.

PURPOSE We describe a new, modified jet injection technique for local anesthesia for no-scalpel vasectomy without the use of a needle, which may minimize the fear of vasectomy in men due to the needle involved in local anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS A MadaJet Medical Injector (MADA Medical Products, Carlstadt. New Jersey) was used in this study to deliver a high pressure spray of 0.1 cc local anesthetic solution directly through the scrotal skin down onto the tissue around the vas. Two or 3 jet injections are delivered to each vas and a total of 4 to 6 suffice for the entire vasectomy. RESULTS No-needle jet injection is remarkably effective for local anesthesia for no-scalpel vasectomy. The average volume of anesthetic solution per jet injection is 0.1 cc with 0.2 to 0.3 cc for each vas. Onset is almost immediate, within 10 to 20 seconds after injection. About 465 patients were anesthetized by the jet injection technique with great satisfaction. The average visual analog scale score for the pain of the jet injection itself was 1.71 of 10. The average visual analog scale score for the pain of subsequent vasectomy during the surgical procedure was 0.66 of 10 (median 0.2). No hematomas were noted. Patients experience the mild discomfort of a pinch, not unlike a rubber band, with the first injection. CONCLUSIONS No-needle anesthesia with jet injection is a new technique to deliver rapid onset of profound local anesthesia to the patient undergoing vasectomy. It is a simple and safe approach with high patient satisfaction, as reflected in low pain scores. The benefit of this technique without a needle is that it may decrease the fear of pain in men and enhance the popularity of vasectomy worldwide.