COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF INTRAURETHRAL LIGNOCAINE SOLUTION VERSUS GEL FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT IN MALE PATIENTS UNDERGOING FLEXIBLE CYSTOSCOPY

Introduction: Flexible cystoscopy (FCS) is a common urology procedure in which patients experience discomfort. The use of lignocaine gel for analgesia is generally accepted, however, limited evidence exists, side by side lignocaine solution efficacy [4]. The study compared the pain scores of intraurethral lignocaine gel and solution during FCS. Methodology: A comparative study included 110 male patients undergoing FCS at a tertiary care center. Participants were allocated to Group A (10 mL 2% lignocaine solution) or Group B (10 mL 2% lignocaine gel). Pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS; 0–10) during and immediately post-procedure. Secondary outcomes included procedure duration and stratification by age, surgeon experience, and indication. Results: Post-intervention mean pain scores indicated a statistically significant difference between Group A (2.96 ± 0.72) and Group B (4.96 ± 0.73; p < .01). Procedure duration was significantly reduced with Group A (5.02 ± 0.78 vs. 7.51 ± 0.84 minutes; p < 0.01). Post-hoc stratification analysis demonstrated that this was reflected by lower pain scores when performed by the consultants, as well as questions completed within 5 min. P<0.05). Conclusion: Lignocaine solution gave better analgesia and shorter duration of procedures when compared with lignocaine gel, thus it is preferable for treating male patients in FCS. Keywords: Flexible cystoscopy, lignocaine, pain management, VAS, visual analogue scale