Comparison between lignocaine 2% gel and water-based lubricant in reducing post intubation sore throat.

TEOH SC ¹ and LEE CY ²

¹ Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Hospital Kuala Lumpur

² Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Malaysia

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Sore throat following tracheal intubation is a common postoperative complaint with a reported incidence of up to 90%. We performed a prospective randomised double-blind clinical trial to compare the effectiveness of lignocaine 2% gel with water-based lubricant (KY Jelly) in reducing post-intubation sore throat. Materials and Methods: One hundred and fifty one patients with American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I or II undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia with tracheal intubation were enrolled into this study. Cuffed endotracheal tubes were lubricated with either lignocaine 2% (Group A) or a water-based lubricant (Group B). Patients were assessed at three intervals (1, 12, and 24 h after surgery) by a blinded investigator for presence of sore throat, severity of sore throat and throat related complaints. Results: Significantly larger number of patients in Group A complained of throat dryness at 1 h (p=0.035) and sore throat at 12 h (p=0.001). Incidences of sore throat and throat related complaints were comparable at other time intervals. No differences in severity of sore throat were observed, and none of the patients required further treatment. Conclusion: Lignocaine 2% gel was not effective in reducing post-intubation sore throat in comparison with water-based lubricant.

Keywords: Lubricant, lignocaine gel, water-based lubricant, sore throat, post-intubation, complications

Correspondence author: CY Lee. UKM Medical Centre, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Tel: +603 91755789

E mail: lee@ppukm.ukm.edu.my

Brunei Int Med J. 2014; 10 (2): 85-91