Abstract :
Introduction: The postoperative sore throat (POST) occurs in approximately ? 50% of individuals after general anaesthesia. An attempt is made in the present research to evaluate the efficacy of alkalinized 2% lignocaine with conventional air as cuff inflating media, in preventing POST and coughing in patients undergoing a surgical procedure under general anaesthesia.
Materials and Methods: This randomised double-blinded controlled study was conducted in sixty patients. In Group A, the endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff was filled with air, whereas in Group B, it was filled with 2% lignocaine. Coughing and POST were recorded immediately, at 1 hour, 12 hours and 24 hours. We have compared coughing, POST following tracheal extubation, and volume of inflation medium and intra-cuff pressure at the start and at the end of surgery between the two groups.
Results: The mean volume at the end of the surgery was 7.9 mL and 4.5 mL in Group A and Group B respectively (p-value = 0.001). The mean intra-cuff pressure at the end of the surgery was 32.5 cm and 19.8 cm in Group A and Group B respectively (p-value = 0.001). The percentage change in the volume at the end of the surgery was 49.7 and -12.7% in Group A and Group B respectively (p-value = 0.001). The percentage change in the intra-cuff pressure at the end of the surgery was 62.5 and -1.0% in Group A and Group B respectively (p-value = 0.001). The incidence of coughing at one hour postoperative was 26.7% and 3.3% in Group A and Group B respectively (p-value = 0.026).
Conclusion: The intracuff alkalinized lidocaine is useful adjunct to endotracheal intubation.
Keyword :
Postoperative sore throat, Lidocaine, Air, Endotracheal tube.