The effect of office based flexible and rigid cystoscopy on pain experience in female patients

• Published in: Investigative and clinical urology Vol. 58; no. 1; pp. 48 - 53
• Main Authors: Casteleijn, Niek F, Vriesema, Jessica L, Stomps, Saskia P, van Balen, Olav L W B, Cornel, Erik B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Urological Association 01.01.2017; Korean Urological Association; 대한비뇨의학회
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Ambulatory Care; Cystoscopy - adverse effects; Cystoscopy - instrumentation; Cystoscopy; Flexible; Pain experience; Rigid; Women; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Original; Pain - etiology; Pain Measurement; Prospective Studies; 비뇨기과학; Women; Cystoscopy; Flexible; Pain experience; Rigid
• ISSN: 2466-0493; 2466-054X
• DOI: 10.4111/icu.2017.58.1.48

Rigid and flexible cystoscopies are both routinely used in female patients. Literature is conflicting whether flexible cystoscopy is less painful compared to rigid cystoscopy. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate whether using flexible cystoscopy leads to less discomfort and pain compared to rigid cystoscopy in female patients who underwent first time cystoscopy. One hundred eighty-nine female patients, who never had undergone cystoscopy, were randomized into 2 groups: 92 patients underwent rigid cystoscopy and 97 patients flexible cystoscopy. Directly after the cystoscopy procedure all patients were asked to fill out their pain experience on a 100-mm visual analogue pain scale (VAS). Median VAS score was significantly lower for women undergoing flexible cystoscopy (0 [0-20]) compared to rigid cystoscopy (15 [0-38], p<0.001). In addition, age was inversely associated with VAS score, indicating that younger females experienced more pain (R=-0.30, p=0.001). The use of flexible cystoscopy was associated with a decrease in VAS score and remained significant after adjustment for age, sex of urologist, performing urologist and indication (standardized β=-0.17, p=0.048). The use of flexible cystoscopy resulted in a significantly lower pain experience compared to rigid cystoscopy. Based on patient's pain experience during cystoscopy, this study implicates to use flexible cystoscopy in female patients who undergo first time cystoscopy.