ELECTROMOTIVE ADMINISTRATION OF INTRAVESICAL LIDOCAINE IN PATIENTS WITH INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS

Six patients with long-standing interstitial cystitis (IC) were treate d with intravesical electromotive drug-assisted (EMDA) therapy using l idocaine (1.5%) and 1:100,000 epinephrine in aqueous solution, A stain less-steel silver-coated anode placed through an 18F Foley catheter wa s positioned in the urinary bladder, and a 5 x 10-cm dispersion electr ode (cathode) was placed on the suprapubic skin, which was well lubric ated with conductive jelly, The two electrodes were connected to a pul sed DC generator, and electrical current was slowly ramped from 0 to 1 5 mA while the lidocaine and epinephrine were in the urinary bladder, After 40 minutes of current application, the bladder was hydraulically dilated to maximum tolerance, Significant bladder dilatation was achi eved without systemic symptoms, Post-treatment, voiding symptoms decre ased, as did suprapubic and perineal pain, and in four patients, the r esults have been durable.