Electromotive drug administration of lidocaine and dexamethasone followed by cystodistension in women with interstitial cystitis

Electromotive drug administration (EMDA) involves the active transport of ionized drugs such as lidocaine by the application of an electric current. Twenty-one female subjects with interstitial cystitis were treated with EMDA of lidocaine and dexamethasone, followed by cystodistension. The procedure was convenient and well tolerated, with hospital attendance for 1 hour. Bladder anesthesia was excellent, with cystodistension from a discomfort level of 200 ml to a mean volume of 600 ml. Eighty-five percent had a good response (reduction in frequency and in pain score by 3 or more) at 2 weeks, with 63% still responding at 2 months. An excellent response (pain score of 0) was present in 25% of patients reviewed at 6 months. These results are comparable to the response following cystodistension under general anesthesia. There is a need for a randomized blinded comparison of lidocaine with and without EMDA. If proven to be of pharmacological efficacy, EMDA would have many applications in facilitating procedures previously requiring general anesthesia.