Objective: Transurethral bladder catheterization (TUBC) is a painful, frequently performed procedure for collecting sterile urine. We sought to determine if administration of intraurethral lidocaine before TUBC using a blunt tipped syringe decreases procedural pain in young children in the pediatric emergency department.
Methods: Randomized clinical trial of children 0 to 36 months old requiring TUBC for collection of urine in a pediatric emergency department was performed. Patients received intraurethral 2% lidocaine jelly or usual care (no analgesia). Randomization was stratified by sex. Intraurethral lidocaine jelly was administered via Uro-Jet, 5 minutes before TUBC. Baseline child state, lidocaine application, TUBC, and child state 1 minute post-TUBC were videotaped. Neither providers nor parents were blinded to study arm. Videos were scored by a trained, independent, blinded reviewer using the Faces, Legs, Arms, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) and Modified Behavioral Pain Score scales. Pain scores were compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Our primary outcome was difference in FLACC scores between groups.
Results: Eighty children were enrolled in the study, and 73 had analyzable data. No differences were detected in pain by mean FLACC score between intervention (8; 95% confidence interval, 7-9) and control (9; 95% confidence interval, 8-10) groups. There were no differences between groups in mean FLACC score when stratified by age or sex or in mean Modified Behavioral Pain Score.
Conclusions: Intraurethral lidocaine for TUBC for urine collection using a blunt tipped applicator did not improve procedural pain scores. Pain scores were high across groups. Further study should be performed to improve analgesia for this highly painful procedure.