Topical or no anaesthesia for external urethral sphincterotomy in neurogenic vesical dysfunction due to spinal injury

Considerable controversy exists regarding the ideal anaesthetic coverage for external urethral sphincterotomy in spinal injury patients with detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia. From this preliminary experience on 34 patients in whom this procedure was indicated and then attempted under topical (urethral instillation of 20 ml of 2 per cent Lignocaine jelly) or no anaesthesia, we are encouraged into believing that these patients may not require general or regional anaesthesia for this operation.