Does increasing hydrostatic pressure ("bag squeeze") during flexible cystoscopy improve patient comfort: a...

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Minimally Invasive Procedures

Background:

• Flexible cystoscopy is a common urological procedure.
• Patient discomfort during cystoscopy can be a significant issue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of manual compression of the irrigation bag during flexible cystoscopy.
• To determine if increased hydrostatic pressure reduces patient discomfort.

Main Methods:

• 151 male patients undergoing flexible cystoscopy were randomized into two groups: "squeeze" (manual compression) and "no squeeze".
• All patients received lidocaine gel prior to the procedure.
• Pain was assessed using a 10-point visual analog scale post-procedure.

Main Results:

• The "squeeze" group reported significantly lower mean pain scores (1.38) compared to the "no squeeze" group (3.00) (P < .001).
• Factors like patient age, procedure indication, and clinician experience did not influence the pain scores.

Conclusions:

• Manual compression of the irrigation bag during flexible cystoscope insertion effectively decreases patient discomfort.
• The "bag squeeze" technique is strongly recommended for improving patient experience in male cystoscopies.