Intravesical instillation of ropivacaine reduces bladder spasms following paediatric ureteroneocystostomy

ObjectiveBladder spasms are a common cause of pain after surgical procedures that call for postoperative catheter drainage. Several therapeutic methods have been used to lessen these spasms but none have received widespread success.Patients and methodsTwenty-six children were included in a prospective randomized trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of daily intravesical instillation of ropivacaine as prophylactic treatment for bladder spasms following ureteroneocystostomy.ResultsAlthough six patients experienced mild transient pain during instillation, there was no systemic toxicity attributable to the ropivacaine. The average number of spasms per day fell by half in the instillation group (p < 0.01).ConclusionIntravesical instillation of ropivacaine is a feasible alternative prophylactic treatment for postoperative bladder spasms.