| abstract |
An aqueous solution of local anesthetic is instilled into the urinary bladder in sufficient concentration with the addition of an alkalinizing agent such as sodium bicarbonate to elevate the intra-vesical pH to approximately 8.0. The combination is left in situ in the bladder for at least fifteen minutes to allow time for absorption of the base form of the local anesthetic. This method provides safe and effective topical anesthesia to allow pain-free cystoscopic biopsy and cautery of bladder lesions such as bladder cancer, and provides a means to treat inflammatory conditions of the bladder such as chronic interstitial cystitis and acute bacterial cystitis. |